Question
My newborn, four days old, was found to have a patent foramen ovale during a hospital color Doppler ultrasound, with a blood flow velocity of 2.4mm long and 5mm wide. Will this condition heal naturally? What kind of treatment is needed?
Answer
The fetal oval foramen usually closes within one year after birth. If the child’s oval foramen has not closed by the age of three, it is called patent foramen ovale. Some children may not close until they are one year old, so you don’t need to worry too much. You can wait until the child is older for reexamination.