A patent foramen ovale (PFO) is a hole between the heart's upper chambers (the left and right atria) that failed to close after birth. A patent foramen ovale (PFO) is a hole in the heart that doesn't close.It can increase your stroke risk, but we offer highly effective treatments. Patent Foramen Ovale (PFO) Physicians: Stanley Joseph Chetcuti MD, Interventional Cardiology, Cardiovascular Disease, Internal Medicine. Patent foramen ovale repair: also called a PFO closure, is a procedure that's done to close the flap in the wall of the atrial septum. A patent foramen ovale (PFO) occurs when the flap-like opening does not close. A patent foramen ovale (PFO) is a hole in the heart that didn't close the way it should after birth. 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. If your health care provider thinks you may have a patent foramen ovale (PFO), imaging tests of the heart may be done.