What Is Patent Foramen Ovale?
While a baby grows in the womb, there is a normal opening between the left and right atria (upper chambers) of the heart. If this opening fails to close naturally soon after the baby is born, the hole is called patent foramen ovale (PFO).
Alternative Names
PFO
Causes, incidence, and risk factors
A foramen ovale allows blood to bypass the lungs. A baby's lungs are not used when it grows in the womb, so the hole does not cause problems in an unborn infant. The opening is supposed to close...
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From Our Experts
What is a Patent Foramen Ovale (PFO) and Can it Cause Stroke
What exactly is a patent foramen ovale (PFO)? Has it been known to cause stroke? If the PFO is repaired, what are the chances of recurring... Read more »
Children with Migraine and PFO
For several years now, researchers have been looking at the connection between Migraine and patent foramen ovale (PFO). Now, researchers... Read more »
PFO and Migraine: July, 2010 Update
The connection between patent foramen ovale (PFO) has been an ongoing topic of discussion and questions. One clinical... Read more »
Headlines, News, and Migraines
If you've been keeping an eye out for Migraine news recently, there have been several topics reported in multiple places. Some of you have... Read more »
A Hole in Your Heart: Patent Foramen Ovule
It was the morning after my open heart bypass surgery at UCLA Medical Center, and I was sitting up in the ICU, feeling no pain thanks to... Read more »
From Our Sources
Children with Migraine and PFO
A recent study looked at children with Migraine to determine the prevalence of patent foramen ovale (PFO) in children with Migraine. What Is PFOPFO... Read more »
PFO \Hole in the Heart\" and Migraine"
One of the biggest topics of discussion amongst Migraineurs today is that of PFO, "the hole in the heart" that may contribute to Migraines.... Read more »
Heart defect may not need repair: study
According to a new study, people who have a heart defect known as patent foramen ovale don't seem to benefit from having the condition repaired. Read more »
Heart defect not behind migraines: study
Researchers in Florida have completed a new study that appears to debunk the theory that patent foramen ovale (PFO) can cause migraines.... Read more »
Patent urachus repair
Source: ADAM Encyclopedia
Patent urachus repair is surgery to repair a bladder defect. In an open (or patent) urachus, there is an opening between the bladder and the... Read more »
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