A patent foramen ovale (PFO) is a hole in the heart that doesn’t close as expected after birth. Before a baby is born, they have a hole between the left and right sides of their heart. This hole, ...

DEAR MAYO CLINIC: I'm 36 and do not have any significant medical concerns, but due to a family member's heart health issues, it was recommended I have a cardiac evaluation. After undergoing an ...

Patent foramen ovale (PFO) has been linked to ischemic strokes of undetermined cause (cryptogenic strokes). PFO—a remnant of fetal circulation when the foramen ovale does not seal after birth—can ...

Heart surgery for patent foramen ovale may not always reduce the risk of stroke and other complications due to clot formation, according to recent research. Patent foramen ovale is a defect in the ...

Studies to date have shown an association between the presence of patent foramen ovale and cryptogenic stroke in patients younger than 55 years of age. This association has not been established in ...

Patent foramen ovale and atrial septal aneurysm have been identified as potential risk factors for stroke, but information about their effect on the risk of recurrent stroke is limited. We studied the ...

Evidence-based recommendations on percutaneous closure of patent foramen ovale for the secondary prevention of recurrent paradoxical embolism in divers. This involves passing a device through a large ...

Reducing the frequency and severity of disabling migraines is crucial for quality of life. A new study, published in the February 2009 issue of JACC: Cardiovascular Interventions, finds significant ...

A patent foramen ovale is an opening that some adults have between the top two chambers of their hearts. Everyone has this opening early in life, but it often seals during infancy. In some people, ...