PFO Closure

An animation of a Cardia PFO closure device being implanted in the human heart.

[rherahme]

I had this treatment done at the age of 16 due to cryptogenic stroke. I just had my 5 year review and the device is completely fine!

[Fabedog]

I had a stroke at age 35 due to PFO (hole in heart). I got this operation done. I feel great. BEFORE the closure of my heart I used to get migraines all the time for years. I would see lightning bolts/stars in my eyesight and my head would hurt. My guess is because my brain was not getting sufficient oxygen. Why? Because the hole in my heart was mixing good blood with bad blood. By bad blood i mean the blood coming back from my body with no oxygen just went straight to my brain instead of to my lungs. AFTER the surgery closure I felt immediate alertness in my brain. Why? because my brain was finally receiving 100% oxygenated blood. And I have never gotten a migraine after that. I feel great. I recommend anyone with a PFO get the closure operation done. Would you rather risk getting a stroke and dying? Or just get a simple operation and save yourself from dying?

[mystyaudio]

Had this done about a year ago at 21. Scared me sh!tless, still i was calm and collected until they put me to bed. Next thing i remember i woke up mid surgery with the doctor pushing my left leg to the table. I sat straight up. Then relaxed ( right scope was removed left was almost out ) and all i remember after is waking up completed. Thanks Dr. Fix a hole. I also believe waking up was their fent issue but it was fine. Im fine, youll be fine. Better safe than sorry. I havent received a single migraine in a year, and they would hound me to death when they came. By all means, get your pfo closure

[Disosway]

Firstly, if you have any sort of heart palpitations or any other sensations in your heart, go see a doctor! I had heart palpitations that were horrible several times over years before I had a stroke. They made me feel light headed, short of breath, and my chest was horribly uncomfortable. Looking back, it definitely seemed like a serious condition, and I should have seen someone. If I did I probably would not have had the stroke.

Didn’t realize how common this was though. I thought it was crazy that I had a stroke at 18 some weeks ago, but it seems I’m not even special for it, which is sad because that shit fucks you up.

Apparently there’s some good correlation between getting this procedure and no longer having migraine type headaches. A surprising number of good things because of this stroke though. Those headaches killed me for the day. When I had the stroke it was just like I was having another headache, except I also had memory loss.

Good luck to anyone getting this procedure. Both that the procedure goes well, and that you recover well!

I’ll try to update this comment after the operation in a couple months with how it went.

[suzannecarpenter]

To Samantha -- a PDA is a small vessel that shunts blood between the Pulmonary Artery and the Aorta that normally closes off at birth.  A PFO is the opening between the two upper chambers of the heart that also normally closes at birth.  Sometimes these will remain open or, under stress in the first few days after birth, will reopen and will cause respiratory problems for an infant and can cause problems for the child (or adult) down the road.  Both require careful evaluation by a cardiologist and may or may not be able to be dealt with in the cath lab with this type of closure device.

[WayneLeng]

I had stroke of unknown origin but when I got older they found I had ASD from birth. I have since had two more strokes, a pulmonary embolism with hundreds of tiny blood clots in my legs and a cardiac arrest. Fortunately I was in the hospital when the cardiac arrest happened or it would have been all over. I'm now 74 years old and my doctors have never said anything about getting the hole repaired. I asked if my strokes could be related and the answer I have heard was no, don't think so. I also suffer from hemoplegic migraines. It seems that I have been misled by my doctors who do not appear to know much about this.

[pugnomis]

can you use a vibro disc after this surgery

[jabroski]

I have a patent foramen ovale (PFO) hole in heart) I also have svt (supraventricular tachycardia) having ablation surgery at the end of the month to rectify the rapid heartbeat and abnormal heart rhythm. The patent foramen ovale is a benign issue that apparently a quarter of the population has but it causes an increase risk of stroke and cryptogenic stroke due to blood able to pass from right to left ventricle bypassing the lungs which apparently filter small clots from the blood supply which is a little worrisome but ok. The issue I have is that I have an uncle that has the same issue (patent foramen ovale) and is currently recovering from his 3rd (cryogenic) stroke and he is only 55 (I'm 33) and has lost complete function of the left side of his face. I messaged my cardiologist explaining this and the fact that pretty much every aliment the man has, I have had example we are the only ones in our family to have testicular torsion (very rare condition), SVT and also the only ones in the entire family to have kidneys stones and glaucoma and bad eye sight, so I'm worried to say the least... The issue I have is that the surgery to fix the svt and the surgery to "patch" the PFO are identical so in my mind it makes since that while I'm young I get the procedure done to resolve both issues being they are gonna be in there already instead of waiting to see if anything happens bc it is a "defect" and has an increased risk of stroke associated with it. Well my cardiologist states the likely hood of me having those issues is very low so he will absolutely not patch the hole?? With my family history it looks like he would be willing to fix both issues now instead of risking doing it after I have a stroke. My question is for cardiologist or doctors what should my next move be I want to get the surgery as quickly as possible to resolve the svt but I feel like I need to cancel the surgery and look for a cardiologist that is willing to fix both issues. What is the likelihood of finding a cardiologist to do that? Or should I just roll with the plan at hand?

[chrissoller]

i have to have this done soon, Im wincing as i type this

[ArztinGul]

I have a pfo/asd with 6mm opening, recently diagnosed it because i had uncomfortable feeling in my heart and when i do physical exercise i became breathless, the doctor said that defect is too small to be closed you will fine now but after 50 there will complications, i am scared cause i still have angina plus i also have pain in my left trapezius😭

[raya]

Can you please tell me what's the point from this video ?

[dharmanmandloi]

I am 30 years old, I also have the same problem since childhood, is treatment possible.

[talhaali]

How many size of hole device is propely fit

[niranjanavelu]

I had this treatment 2 years before... Its fine now... But after this treatment within 20 days i have heavy migraine problem regualarly... Still i have migraine headache 15 days once... Anybody know why?... And please tell me to solve this migraine problem

[talhaali]

1 year ago my mother heart heart hole doctor put device by leg but he was not success again doctor need open heart surgery

[luckyjha]

Kitna expensive hai ye treatment sir plz reply?..

[talhaali]

How many big hole need open heart surgery plz reply

[marielbalacuit]

doug kramer brought me here, who else?

[nicomiller]

I am 42. already have had 2 strokes due to a PFO. I am going to have the closure done, is there any complications ?

[nybadboy]

I just had this done last week. I am a 46 year old male and now they have me on Plavix. I don't wanna be on this drug for ever. Are you on this drug or any blood thinners?