Patent foramen ovale (PFO) refers to a defect in the atrial septum (hole in the heart) which is sometimes the cause of stroke in young people and can occasionally be implicated in other conditions.
It is a very common defect in the general population and only rarely associated with any problems. However, in a small subset of the population for whom it has caused a stroke, closure of the hole is considered.
This is discused by a multidisciplinary team including cardiologists, surgeons and stroke physicians.
Percutaneous closure of PFO
The procedure is performed through the femoral vein via a small incision in the upper leg. It is carried out under general anaesthetic, with ultrasound and x-ray guidance.
The complication rate is extremely low. Royal Papworth has a long history of implanting a variety of devices to close these defects and our operators perform the procedure between 50 and 100 times a year with excellent results.