PATENT FORAMEN OVALE IN DIVING

Course overview

PATENT FORAMEN OVALE (PFO) IS A CONDITION IN WHICH THE FORAMEN OVALE, PRESENT IN THE ATRIAL SEPTUM OF THE DEVELOPING FETUS, FAILS TO CLOSE AFTER BIRTH. IN DIVERS, IT HAS BEEN ASSOCIATED WITH SEVERE NEUROLOGICAL DECOMPRESSION SICKNESS, INNER EAR DECOMPRESSION SICKNESS, AND CUTIS MARMORATA. THIS ACTIVITY REVIEWS THE PATHOPHYSIOLOGY, EVALUATION, AND MANAGEMENT OF PFO IN DIVERS AND HIGHLIGHTS THE ROLE OF THE INTERPROFESSIONAL TEAM IN CARING FOR AFFECTED PATIENTS.