What is a PFO and how can it Affect You?
A PFO (Patent Foramen Ovale) is a spot in our heart that is formed when a baby is in the womb. The hole in the wall lets the blood bypass the lungs before we are born. Every fetus has this hole in its heart, and the PFO usually closes by itself when a new baby draws its first breaths.
But we know that for 1/3 of the general population, this hole is not sealed, but can still open in adulthood – and for some, it can cause major problems, including stroke.
If we can do a better job of detecting these PFO’s among stroke survivors, we can treat the condition and help avoid recurring problems.
A Simple Change in an Echocardiogram Could Help Us Diagnose and Intervene
Stroke victims are routinely tested using a special echocardiogram to see if a PFO could be a contributing factor for them. Dr. Carmelo Panetta of St. John’s Heart Clinic thinks an innovative approach to this standard test will help detect PFO’s that have gone undetected. He has received a major grant from the National Institutes of Health (NIH) to conduct a study to see if this new method yields better results.
He will do this by running the “standard” test and then testing again using a slightly different entry point for the procedure.
Both tests and all associated costs of this study will be covered by the research grant, and patients will receive a stipend for volunteering. All testing can be done in one outpatient visit, and patients will be followed by Dr. Panetta’s team to see how they do after the test.
All participants will receive the test results. If they have a PFO, they will be directed to their specialist team for appropriate follow-up that can make a substantial difference.
To learn whether you might be eligible for this study, call Fairview Research Recruitment at 651.326.4450 or send an email to [email protected].