Patent Foramen Ovale in Children: A Review of Recent Progress

The support has been provided by clinical trials and guidelines for managing patent foramen ovale (PFO) in adults; however, the optimal approach is still unclear for treating PFO in pediatric patients. PFO and its associated clinical syndromes, imaging diagnosis, and management in pediatric patients were analyzed by a comprehensive analysis. Extensive research was performed using electronic databases, including PubMed, Cochrane, Web of Science, and EMBASE. This review includes the studies published until February 1st, 2024. A total of 583 articles were obtained, of which 54 were included in the comprehensive review. Numerous evidences have indicated that a right-to-left shunt through a PFO may be involved in cryptogenic stroke in children, although the connection between migraine and aura has not been substantiated by robust evidence. Children with sickle cell disease and a PFO were at higher risks of paradoxical embolization, rare syndromes caused by PFO could also occur in children such as platypnea–orthodeoxia syndrome, myocardial infarction, and decompression sickness. Contrast transthoracic echocardiography was deemed the most appropriate examination for children due to its favorable transthoracic windows, eliminating the need for anesthesia. This review suggested that the additional treatment was not needed as no evidence was provided for potential future complications linked to isolated PFO in children. For children facing unique circumstances related to PFO, a customized interdisciplinary consultation is essential prior to considering medical interventions.