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patent foramen ovale

American  

noun

Pathology.
  1. a congenital heart defect resulting from failure of the foramen ovale to close shortly after birth.


Example Sentences

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A patent foramen ovale - or PFO - which is a small hole between the top two chambers of the heart.

From BBC Jan. 1, 2025

The exemption covered patients only with the condition known as a patent foramen ovale, or P.F.O., who had had two strokes despite taking drugs intended to prevent them.

From New York Times Dec. 4, 2013

As much as 20–25 percent of the general population may have a patent foramen ovale, but fortunately, most have the benign, asymptomatic version.

From Textbooks Jun. 19, 2013

In the case of severe septal defects, including both tetralogy of Fallot and patent foramen ovale, failure of the heart to develop properly can lead to a condition commonly known as a “blue baby.”

From Textbooks Jun. 19, 2013

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