Our expert heart surgeons can close the hole. The procedure isn't open-heart surgery.Treatment includes a catheter procedure or surgery to close the opening in the heart. Patent Foramen Ovale (PFO) Catheter Repair PFO catheter repair closes the patent foramen ovale (flap in the atrial septum wall). Before birth, there is a hole that allows blood-flow from the mother. A patent foramen ovale (PFO) occurs when hole remains open after birth. Patent foramen ovale and atrial septal defect closure is a routine procedure to close holes in the upper chambers of the heart. Patent Foramen Ovale Closure. 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.