A foramen ovale is a hole in the heart. The small hole naturally exists in babies who are still in the womb for fetal circulation. It should close soon after birth. If it doesn’t close, the condition ...

Patent foramen ovale (PFO) is a normal fetal communication between the right and left atria that persists after birth. PFO is a common finding that occurs in 20–34% of the population, although its ...

This Journal feature begins with a case vignette highlighting a common clinical problem. Evidence supporting various strategies is then presented, followed by a review of formal guidelines, when they ...

Patent foramen ovale is usually an incidental finding but can sometimes cause hypoxemia. Patent foramen ovale should be considered when the degree of hypoxemia is disproportionate to the underlying ...

Patent foramen ovale (PFO) has been linked to ischemic strokes of undetermined cause (cryptogenic strokes). PFO—a remnant of fetal circulation when the foramen ovale does not seal after birth—can ...

Studies to date have shown an association between the presence of patent foramen ovale and cryptogenic stroke in patients younger than 55 years of age. This association has not been established in ...

In the womb, fetuses have an opening in the upper chambers of the heart known as a foramen ovale. While the opening is supposed to close naturally after birth, for many it never does. That's when it's ...

A patent foramen ovale (PFO) is a hole in the heart that doesn’t close as expected after birth. Before a baby is born, they have a hole between the left and right sides of their heart. This hole, ...

A patent foramen ovale is an opening that some adults have between the top two chambers of their hearts. Everyone has this opening early in life, but it often seals during infancy. In some people, ...