In most people, a PFO creates no symptoms and requires no treatment. A patent foramen ovale is a small, flaplike opening in the wall between the upper chambers of the heart.The larger the hole, the more likely symptoms are. PFOs, on the other hand, are normal before birth but may fail to close after birth. Most people will not have any signs or symptoms directly from PFO at all. Possible PFO symptoms include: Stroke. Our expert heart surgeons can close the hole. The procedure isn't open-heart surgery. Most of the time, a PFO itself causes no symptoms. Sometimes symptoms do result from the complications of a PFO, such as stroke.