How is patent foramen ovale (PFO) diagnosed?

Heart ultrasound is used to diagnosis patent foramen ovale (PFO). A saline solution is shaken vigorously to create microbubbles and then injected into the body. Ultrasound detects the flow of the microbubbles through the heart, showing if they travel through a hole between the atrial (upper) chambers, thus diagnosing PFO. There is no serious risk involved; this noninvasive procedure does not require radiation. Check out the example of how to diagnose patent foramen ovale from Dr. Khandheria of Aurora Health Care.

A patent foramen ovale is diagnosed through an ultrasound test of the heart (transesophageal echocardiogram). During this test, the doctor can find out whether or not there is a shunt or fluid shift between the right and left heart chambers.