This opening – the foramen ovale allows blood flow from the mother to the baby. After birth, the flap-like covering typically closes the hole permanently.To close the hole, we use a small tube called a catheter. The catheter goes into your blood vessels using a small cut (is a minimally invasive procedure). Patent foramen ovale and atrial septal defect closure is a routine procedure to close holes in the upper chambers of the heart. Virginia. Augusta Health 78 Medical Center Dr. Fishersville, VA 22939 540 332 4000. Treatment includes a catheter procedure or surgery to close the opening in the heart. The surgeons at our adult congenital heart center perform patent foramen ovale closures and actively research innovative techniques to treat the condition. PFO closure is a minimally invasive transcatheter procedure, usually performed under general anesthesia or conscious sedation in a catheterization laboratory. A PFO closure is a procedure that can help lower the risk of a stroke for some people.