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Your doctor has recommended a procedure called a patent foramen ovale (PFO) repair.

You might not have heard this medical term before now and may be feeling unsure about the nature of the procedure.

This information sheet will outline what the procedure is and what risks are involved.

After you read this information sheet, you might still have questions. If you do, please contact the team at Heart HQ. We’re here to help.

What’s a patent foramen ovale repair?

The foramen ovale is an opening in the atrial septum that is supposed to be there before a baby is born and then close after birth. Prior to birth, the opening allows blood to flow between the atria (heart chambers) in the foetus. In about one in four births, the hole doesn’t close and becomes a patent (open) foramen ovale.

If the opening doesn’t close properly after birth, then blood or emboli can cross from the right atrium to the left atrium.

The procedure starts with an intravenous line (IV) being put into your arm. You will receive an injection of local anaesthetic before a catheter (a very fine tube) is placed into a vein in your groin or wrist. Sometimes a sedative will also be given.

Your doctor will repair the hole by putting a permanent artificial device into the defect. The device that closes the hole is called a septal occluder and acts as a plug. It will be passed through the catheter and advanced into your heart and placed into the defect.

Once your doctor is happy with the placement, the catheter will be removed and the entry site will be closed.

You will have further monitoring in recovery or CCU and the usual stay is one night.

If your doctor had advised the need for PFO repair, any of the following may also be required:

Echocardiogram – an ultrasound that uses soundwaves to form a picture of the heart (see separate information sheet).

Right heart catheter – a soft balloon catheter that records the pressure in the lungs and heart (see separate information sheet).

Angiogram – a catheter that is passed into each coronary artery while a series of video pictures are taken using x-rays and a contrast medium (x-ray dye). This measures the size of the heart and how well it is pumping (see separate information sheet).

What kind of risks are associated with this procedure?

Any kind of procedure carries some element of risk, often very small and rare.

Your doctor has balanced the benefits and risks of carrying out the test against the benefits and risks of not proceeding. If your doctor has recommended this procedure, they believe there is benefit to you going ahead.

It’s important you understand the risks involved so you can make an informed decision.

Here are the most commonly reported risks and complications associated with a percutaneous PFO repair.

Common risks and complications (more than 5% of cases)

Minor bruising at the puncture site
A higher lifetime risk from exposure to radiation
Abnormal heart rhythm that continues for a long time—this may need an electric shock to correct
Major bruising and swelling (haematoma)
Bleeding around catheter site
High or low blood pressure
Sore throat from the anaesthetic tube or echo probe

Rare risks and complications (less than 1% of cases)

Stroke or transient ischaemic attack (TIA)—this may cause long term disability
Incomplete closure of the defect—this may require surgery
An allergic reaction to the x-ray dye
Embolism—a blood clot may form and break off from the catheter which will be treated with blood thinning medication
Fever, headache or migraine
Injury to the artery, veins or nerves in the groin or neck—this may require surgery
Tear of oesophagus, vein or heart (from the camera)—this may be life threatening and may require surgery
Clots in the leg (deep vein thrombosis or DVT) with pain and swelling—rarely, a part of the clot may break off and go into the lungs
Device infection—this will need open heart surgery and antibiotics
Dislodgement of the septal occluder which may require open heart surgery to repair
Puncture of the heart with a collection of blood around the heart—this will require surgery to repair
Death as a result of this procedure is rare

Percutaneous patent foramen ovale closure info sheet

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Percutaneous patent foramen ovale closure

What’s a patent foramen ovale repair?

What kind of risks are associated with this procedure?

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