Overview

What is patent foramen ovale (PFO) in a child?

The foramen ovale is the standard opening between the top two chambers of a fetal heart- the right and left patio. Usually, the foramen ovale closes between 6 months and 1 year of age. Still, it's called a patent PAY-roof, meaning open foramen ovale PFO if the foramen ovale remains open after birth. A PFO does not often cause difficulties. The foramen ovale is more likely to stay open if an infant has a natural heart complaint.

What is the function of the foramen ovale?

A fetus doesn't use the lungs to absorb oxygenated blood. Instead, it comes from the mama's placenta and passes through the umbilical cord. The foramen ovale sends oxygen-rich blood from the umbilical cord in the fetal's upper right chamber (right patio) to the upper left chamber (left patio). From there, the peregrination of blood to the left side of the fetal heart provides oxygen to the fetal brain.

The foramen ovale usually closes off after delivery. This occurs once your baby starts breathing and blood thresholds flows towards the lungs to collect oxygen. Such blood is transferred to the left side of the baby's heart before being pumped to the rest of the body.

What causes Patent Foramen Ovale (PFO) in children?

Normally, the foramen ovale is open at birth. The process of occluding it after birth is typically not complete until the baby is several months old. There is no clear reason why the valve does not close in some people.

What are the symptoms of Patent Foramen Ovale (PFO)?

Most babies who have a PFO are asymptomatic since PFOs do not usually pose problems. However, since PFOs allow blood from both sides of the heart to mix, children who are born with severe heart disease or pulmonary hypertension (high blood pressure in the lungs) may benefit from them and experience fewer severe symptoms.

How is PFO diagnosed in a child?

If your child sometimes turns blue for short periods, the doctor may decide to order one or more of the following tests.

Electrocardiogram (ECG)
Heart ultrasound, also called echocardiogram: Your physician may include the bleb test under the umbrella of the echocardiogram. He does this by placing a saline-filled intravenous (IV) line in your child's arm and allowing minute amounts of the blood to be filled with bubbles. However, these little bags would travel up to the left side of the heart and show on an echocardiogram if your child has a PFO.

What is the Treatment of patent foramen ovale in children?

PFOs are rarely treated. However, if your child must undergo treatment for another kind of heart defect, the PFO is likely to be closed during surgery. Your child's doctor may sometimes recommend surgical closure of the PFO. Some research has suggested that closing a PFO reduced migraine episodes or the risk of another stroke for a person who has had a stroke previously, but such evidence is scanty.

Another simple process is closing up a PFO. A check device is introduced to the area of the PFO via the catheter. The device expands and forms a patch that closes the hole. Most children can be discharged on the day of the procedure or the following day. Your doctor may need to prescribe your child aspirin to take home for months after the procedure, as a form of palladium.

When to call the doctor?

Contact your healthcare provider if your baby turns blue when crying or passing stools, fails to feed, or fails to grow normally.

Why Tender Palm Super-Speciality Hospital for Pediatric Patent Foramen Ovale?

Tender Palm Hospital has the most experienced team of Pediatric Cardiologists, Pediatric Cardiac Surgeons, and diagnostics with the latest and International standard infection control measures in Lucknow, India. The Pediatric Cardiac Science Centre team has decades of experience in successfully treating Pediatric Patent Foramen Ovale (PFO).