What role does the Foramen ovale play in the baby
After birth and as a result of a baby’s first breaths, there is a change in pressure within the lungs and heart. The blood no longer passes through the Foramen ovale, but passes through the natural lung and body circulation. The Foramen ovale is therefore no longer needed and is usually closed by fusion of the atrial septum layers.
This results in a complete separation of the right side of the heart from the left side. The closure of the Foramen ovale by fusion of the septum usually occurs within the first days or weeks after birth. However, closure can also take longer than a few weeks or even never occur completely in the course of life.
This does not necessarily represent a malignant disease. Depending on the size of the Foramen ovale and possible combined heart defects, life without necessary treatment is possible or not. However, an examination by a medical specialist should be performed in any case.
What is a forum ovale apertum/persistens?
If the Foramen ovale does not close or closes incompletely after birth, a Foramen ovale apertum occurs, which is also called Foramen ovale persistens. Normally, after the lungs have been ventilated as a result of a baby’s first breaths, the blood is passed through the pulmonary circulation and further into the left atrium. The Foramen ovale is therefore no longer necessary and closes over time.
In some babies, however, there is no closure of the septum, resulting in the clinical picture of Foramen ovale persistens. In most cases, however, the severity of the disease is very low and no mandatory treatment is necessary because the heart automatically circulates the blood through the lungs due to high pressures in the left atrium and correspondingly lower pressures in the right atrium. Thus, in a healthy heart, without any other heart defects, only a small amount of blood is transferred between the atria via the Foramen ovale.
This results in a kind of valve-like occlusion. This unclosed Foramen ovale occurs in about 25% of people. If there is an excessive transfer through the Foramen ovale, for example due to a change in pressure, more blood can pass from the right side of the heart to the left side without passing through the pulmonary circulation.Since one of the tasks of the lungs, in addition to enrichment with oxygen, is also filtering, increased amounts of oxygen-depleted and unfiltered blood are transported directly into the large body circulation via the Foramen ovale. Depending on the amount of this blood, this can cause symptoms such as shortness of breath, reduced performance or migraine.
