In this procedure, the provider inserts a thin, flexible tube called a catheter into a blood vessel in the groin area. Patent foramen ovale (PFO) is a hole between your heart's upper chambers.The foramen ovale is a hole in the wall between the left and right atria of every human fetus. This hole allows blood to bypass the fetal lungs. A patent foramen ovale (PFO) is a hole in the heart that didn't close the way it should after birth. In SW Florida, only Lee Health's specially trained physicians perform PFO repair. Call 239-445-4775 for more information. However, it may cause serious complications under certain circumstances. Patent foramen ovale, or PFO, occurs when a connection forms between the two upper heart chambers, the left and right atria. Use a local anesthetic to numb the groin area where they'll insert the catheter.