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 What is a PFO? Patent Foramen Ovale (PFO). In the womb, a fetus
is not yet breathing, so it doesn't need much blood flowing through its lungs. This is where the efficiency of nature takes over. There is a "shortcut" through which the
mother's blood is mostly diverted away from the lungs and into the body of the fetus.The shortcut is called the foramen ovale. It's a small hole
between the upper left and upper right chambers, or atria, of the heart. The hole is generally higher up on the wall (septum) between the chambers, just above where a secundum-type Atrial Septum Defect (ASD) would be
located. The foramen ovale should grow closed at birth or shortly afterward. This change accommodates the increasing blood pressure in the aorta and left side of the infant's heart as it begins its normal stage of
development. If the foramen ovale doesn't close, as it should, blood can flow through it from right to left. This condition is referred to as Patent
Foramen Ovale (PFO). The word "patent" is a medical term that means "open. "Patent foramen ovale is suspected as a pathway for blood clots
which can potentially lead to a stroke or transient ischemic attack (TIA). If you have suffered a stroke, your neurologist will attempt to locate the
source of the embolus. When the source of the clot or embolus cannot be found through diagnostic testing, the stroke may be labeled as
"cryptogenic" (unknown source) in nature. Stroke or TIA that is cryptogenic in nature may lead your neurologist to refer you for ultrasound imaging of your heart.  If a Patent Foramen Ovale is found in conjunction with an unknown source of stroke, you may be referred
for medical treatment or Amplatzer device closure of your PFO. The Amplatzer PFO Occluder is designed to close a PFO that is suspected as a pathway of embolic material with an unknown source.
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