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Definition
By Mayo Clinic staffIn normal fetal development, a small, flap-like opening — the foramen ovale (fo-RA-mun o-VA-le) — is present between the right and left upper chambers of the heart (right atrium and left atrium).
The foramen ovale usually closes within the first or second year of life. However, in at least one out of four people, this opening persists throughout life. This condition, called patent foramen ovale (PFO), may allow blood to flow from the heart's right atrium to the left atrium and vice versa.
Most people with patent foramen ovale don't need treatment and don't know they have the condition. Patent foramen ovale is often discovered during tests for other heart problems. Learning that you have a hole in your heart is understandably worrisome. Patent foramen ovale might increase your risk of stroke and migraines, but the evidence isn't clear.
Symptoms
