In SW Florida, only Lee Health's specially trained physicians perform PFO repair. Call 239-445-4775 for more information.Learn more about the causes and complications of this condition in which a hole in the heart doesn't close the way it should after birth. A patent foramen ovale occurs when a hole that is always present in a newborn's heart fails to close as it should once the lungs begin to function after birth. Your Florida Heart, Vein and Vascular Institute provider performs a minimally invasive catheter-based procedure to close the hole. Learn the 4 things you need to know to confidently rule out PFO. Patent foramen ovale (PFO) is a hole between your heart's upper chambers. A patent foramen ovale (PFO) 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.