Cardiology Appointment

This morning Matthew and big sister Maria had a date with Dr. Levin, their cardiologist at Children's and Women's Physicians of Westchester. Maria just had to go for her yearly followup after having Kawasaki Disease 2 1/2 years ago. She wore her heart shirt and heart pocketed jeans for good luck. According to her echocardiogram and EKG, her heart looks perfect and she is clear to go three years before her next appointment. Woohoo!

When Matthew was born the neonatal doctor told us that 50% of babies born with Down syndrome have heart defects. She ordered an EKG and echo and Matthew has these tests done at just one day old. Although we were unsure of his diagnosis for sure, it was so nice to have that taken care of right in the hospital. The cardiologist told us that Matthew had a couple of common small holes in his heart that hadn't closed up yet, but that they should with some time. We were happy that his heart was healthy.

During this morning's appointment, the cardiologist mentioned just one opening (I am assuming the other hole closed) that appears to be a PFO, or patent foramen ovale, which is exactly how things were described to us 6 months ago. According to the Mayo Clinic:

A patent foramen ovale (PFO) is a hole in the heart that didn't close the way it should after birth.

During fetal development, a small flap-like opening — the foramen ovale (foh-RAY-mun oh-VAY-lee) — is usually present between the right and left upper chambers of the heart. It normally closes during infancy. When the foramen ovale doesn't close, it's called a patent foramen ovale.

Although it's common to have a patent formen ovale, most people with the condition never know they have it. A patent foramen ovale is often discovered during tests for other problems. Learning that you have a patent foramen ovale is understandably worrisome, but most people never need treatment for this disorder.

Not Matthew's heart but an image of one with an ASD

The cardiologist wasn't quite sure if he saw a flap to cover the hole or not so we will followup in 6 months when Matthew is one year old. If it isn't a PFO, it could possibly be a small ASD, or atrial septal defect (a hole in the wall between the two upper chambers of the heart; may close on its own). Only time will tell if it is a PFO or an ASD. Either way, if the hole doesn't repair itself it would not require open heart surgery to make the correction but a much less invasive catheter into the groin procedure described here.

Here's to Matthew's little hole closing!