Heart Defect Program

Atrial Septal Defects (ASD) and Patent Foramen Ovale (PFO), often referred to as a hole in the heart, are abnormal openings in the wall between the two upper chambers of the heart, known as the atria. These cause blood to leak between the two chambers. To compensate for this problem the heart often works harder to get the blood to the lungs. This can cause the heart to become enlarged and the extra blood can damage the blood vessels in the lungs. These can also increase someone’s risk for stroke.

While similar, ASDs and PFOs are created by different mechanisms. ASDs occur when the heart is not formed correctly, and there isn’t a complete closure of the wall between the two upper chambers of the heart. ASDs can vary in size. When a fetus is in the womb, there is naturally a hole between the two chambers called a foramen ovale, but it closes shortly after birth. Sometimes it doesn’t close correctly, leaving a hole in the heart between the two chambers which is called a patent (meaning open) foramen ovale. PFOs are very small openings, but they can still cause the heart to have to work harder to compensate for the leak. In approximately 25% of the population, these PFOs remain open into adulthood. They are usually not discovered until the person experiences a medical problem like a stroke.

By accessing the heart through the blood vessels, the structural cardiologist is able to enter the chambers of the heart without cutting the muscle. Once inside the heart, a device is inserted to plug up the opening between the two atria. Then the catheter is removed through the vessels.