Foramen ovale patens

 'Foramen ovale patens'   (foramen ovale apertum)  is a hole in the atrial septum that persists postnatally. Usually, the  'foramen ovale'  closes and merges with the septum to one year of age by the fusion of the developmentally present valves. "Up to a quarter of healthy adults" have a mild form of the defect. . The problem occurs with increased pressure in the right atrium and with more pronounced Heart defects, such as the permanently open foramen ovale patens. In these cases, undesirable "short-circuit manifestations" and possible paradoxical embolism occur.

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 * Heart
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 * Congenital heart defects