Check out whether you have patent foramen ovale

Naturally, the circulatory system and heart of a gestating fetus is different from an infant that has already been born. Specifically, when blood from the veins flow into the right atrium, the foramen ovale would be open to allow blood to flow into the left atrium without going into the right ventricle and then circulating normally through the lungs like infants after birth and then entering the left atrium and exiting via the aorta to be supplied to various organs. The foramen ovale is normally fully closed within 3 months after birth. However, if the foramen ovale does not close, a condition known as patent foramen ovale or PFO can occur.

 

For people with recurrent ischemic stroke, or what is known medically as stroke with an unknown cause, or for people who frequently experience migraines and are unsure whether or not they have PFO, it is possible to diagnose PFO by performing the saline bubble test or by injecting microbubbles intravenously to check if any bubbles flow from the right atrium into the left atrium.

The saline bubble test is a technique in which microbubbles are injected intravenously into the body. A nurse will draw blood and apply a rubber strap around the elbow and then insert a 2-way rubber catheter, because this test makes use of 2 syringes. The first syringe will contain 9 cm3 of saline solution, and it is used to draw about 1 cm3 of the patient’s blood to mix with the saline solution. Meanwhile, the second syringe contains about 1 cm3of ordinary air bubbles. When they are ready, both syringes are pressed alternatingly to create air bubbles.

 

Then the air bubbles are gradually injected. The air bubbles will flow up the arm to reach the right side of the heart. Then the doctor will have the patient exhale to increase pressure to the right side of the heart. As pressure rises in the right side of the heart, the foramen ovale will open (in patients with PFO), and air bubbles from the right side of the heart will enter the left side. Doctors will be able to observe the bubbles from a display monitor. In order to screen for PFO, doctors will repeat the test for about 5 times. In addition to scanning for air bubbles at the heart, doctors might also scan around the neck to check whether air bubbles reach the brain in order to render the most accurate diagnosis.

 

Upon mentioning the idea of injecting air bubbles into the body, many people will probably ask if this technique produces any side effects. Accordingly, Dr. Amorn Jongstapongpan, a cardiologist at Phyathai 2 Hospital, said that when these bubbles enter the body, people can break them down on their own, so they are not dangerous.

 

If possible, probably nobody wants to have patent foramen ovale (PFO). However, when you detect this condition, what you can do is to seek treatment. Closing this opening will 100% cure you from this problem.