Delray Medical Center is now offering a newly approved device designed to help patients diagnosed with a patent foramen ovale (PFO) – a small opening between the upper chambers of the heart. The AMPLATZER™ PFO Occluder is the first and only FDA-approved device designed to close the PFO and reduce the risk of recurrent ischemic strokes caused by dangerous clots passing between the heart chambers and up to the brain.
Normally in a developing fetus, the foramen ovale allows oxygenated blood from the placenta to bypass the lungs. This small, flap-like opening typically closes shortly after birth. When this flap remains open, or “patent,” it is referred to as a PFO. A PFO can potentially allow dangerous clots to pass from the right side of the heart to the left, travel up to the brain and cause a stroke. The AMPLATZER PFO Occluder is designed to seal the unwanted hole and reduce this risk.