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Patent Foramen Ovale Closure

Day of the Treatment

Arriving at the Hospital
Check in at the Cardiac Cath Lab reception desk (Feinberg Pavilion, 251 East Huron, 8th floor) between 6 and 6:30 a.m. unless told otherwise. Parking is available.

Be sure to bring:

  • A list of current medicines
  • Reading material and personal items for an overnight stay. Leave valuables at home.
  • Insurance card

Plan to have a responsible adult to take you home.

For their own safety, children under the age of 16 may not visit the testing area. They may stay in the waiting room with a responsible adult.

Preparing for the Treatment

  • You will be assigned a room for both your pre- and post-procedure care.
  • After you change into a hospital gown, the nurse will review your health history and take your blood pressure and pulse.
  • Blood tests, including a blood creatinine, will be done as needed.
  • An IV (into the vein) line will be inserted into your arm or hand. The IV is used for fluids and needed medicine during the exam.
  • Your groin area will be cleaned and shaved. The femoral vein in the groin will be used for the procedure.
  • The doctor will discuss the procedure with you. After the doctor has answered your questions, you will be asked to give your written consent.
  • You may wear your watch, glasses, dentures (or bridgework), jewelry and hairpieces. You will be asked to empty your bladder just before going into the cath lab.

During the Treatment

Once in the cath lab, you will be assisted onto a firm X-ray table. The room has a camera and several TV monitors. Medicine to relax you is given into the IV line. You may feel drowsy but usually you will be awake and comfortable during the treatment. The area around the puncture site will cleaned with a special soap that may feel cold. An anesthetic (numbing medicine) will be injected into the area and a needle will be inserted into the femoral vein. This is not usually painful. You may feel pressure and mild discomfort at the puncture site. If needed, additional numbing medicine is given.

A catheter will be inserted through the femoral vein. Using X-ray and IV contrast (dye), the catheter will be guided to the heart. Your PFO will be measured.

A properly sized closure device will be selected. It will be placed on a special delivery catheter and advanced across the PFO. After the device is carefully placed in the PFO, it will be released and implanted in your heart.

Surgery Guide

Patent Foramen Ovale Closure
Before the treatment
Day of the treatment
After the treatment