What is patent foramen ovale 10 and what is patent foramen ovale

A patent foramen ovale is a congenital defect of the heart. The foramen ovale is located on the atrial septum, and it is formed during the embryonic stage. Because the fetus does not have pulmonary circulation, the foramen ovale is the passage of blood in the fetus.

After birth, the pulmonary circulation is formed, and the foramen ovale gradually closes. It usually closes within the first year of life. **There are two methods of patent foramen ovale: surgical suture and transcatheter closure.

If a patent foramen ovale is found, not every patient should have it. Because patent foramen ovale occurs in a quarter of the population, most are asymptomatic. If a patent foramen ovale is found, a doctor can be consulted and surgery should only be considered if a portion of the shunts are large and complications occur.

Patent foramen ovale has little hemodynamic effect and can be observed. Patent foramen ovale may also cause cerebral embolism, brain abscess, endocarditis, and migraine.

The foramen ovale is an essential passage for fetal development, providing oxygen and nutrients for fetal development. At birth, the left atrial pressure rises with the first cry and the foramen ovale should be functionally closed, but some children may remain open up to 1 year of age, and even 5% to 10% of people will remain open for life, with no effect on the hemodynamics of the heart. If the atrial septal defect is larger, greater than 8 10mm, and the shunt is large, it is called atrial septal defect and needs to be surgically repaired.

It is recommended that you take your baby to the hospital for a detailed follow-up and follow the advice of the clinician.

The foramen ovale is generally closed within the first year after birth, so the foramen ovale of newborns and infants is not closed, if the foramen ovale is still not closed in children older than 3 years old, it is called patent foramen ovale, about 20% of the 25% of the foramen ovale in adults is not completely closed, leaving a small fissure, called patent foramen ovale. It mainly depends on the age and the shirt is smaller.

Age》The foramen ovale is still not closed in a 3-year-old toddler.

At birth, with the first cry, the pressure in the left atrium increases, causing the left primary septum to adhere to the right secondary septum, resulting in functional closure and anatomical closure within 1 year. If the foramen ovale of a 3-year-old child is still not closed, it is a patent foramen.

Before the primary foramen is not closed, a hole is formed at the proximal apex of the primary septum, which is a normal passage for the pure blood in the fetal period, and a sickle-shaped septum grows on the right side of the first septum from the atrial wall, the secondary septum or the second septum, this septum does not continue to grow and separates the atrium and stops halfway, the sickle-shaped depression is ovoid called the oval fossa, and the primary septum and the secondary septum at the oval fossa fail to adhere and fuse to leave a small fissure.

The foramen ovale is generally closed within the first year after birth, so the foramen ovale of newborns and infants is not closed, if the foramen ovale is still not closed in children older than 3 years old, it is called patent foramen ovale, and about 20 25 of the foramen ovale in adults are not completely closed, leaving a small fissure, called patent foramen ovale When the embryo develops to the first week, the atrial septum is the primary septum or the first septum, and the subsequent septum is the secondary septum or the second septum, and the primary septum grows out of the dorsal wall of the atrial midline in a half-moon shape. Growth toward the atrioventricular canal fuses with the endocardial cushion, leaving a small hole at the end of the atrioventricular septum, called the primary foramen. Before the primary foramen is closed, a hole is formed at the proximal cephalad of the primary septum, called the secondary foramen, which is the normal passage of blood during the fetal period The foramen ovale is a vital passage necessary for fetal development, and the umbilical vein blood from the mother also enters the left heart chamber of the fetus through this channel, and then distributes to the whole body, so as to provide oxygen and nutrients needed for fetal development. At birth, with the first cry, the pressure in the left atrium increases, and the fossa ovale flap is pressed against the edge of the fossa ovale to form a functional closure, while the anatomical complete closure usually takes until 5 to 7 months after birth.

Therefore, it is possible to remain open within one year of life, there may be a small number of shunts, and even 5% to 10% of people keep the foramen ovale open for life without closing, but there is no effect on the hemodynamics of the heart. Therefore, patent foramen ovale in infancy is a normal physiological phenomenon, not congenital heart disease, and surgery is generally not required. However, if the atrial septal defect is larger, greater than 8-10 mm, and the shunt is large, it is called atrial septal defect and needs to be surgically repaired.

The timing of surgery should be done when the child is 2 to 4 years old.