When a patient has a PFO, or hole in the heart, doctors are left with a decision: to close or not to close. Dr. Alain Bouchard and Dr. Mustafa Ahmed discuss cryptogenic stroke and PFO, as well as the role of the heart-brain team, with Dr. Soo Young Kwon and Dr. Ekaterina Bakradze, both of […]
Echocardiography – Part 1 – What is an echocardiogram
An echocardiogram or echo for short, is a powerful tool used primarily by cardiologists to evaluate the heart’s structure and function. An echocardiogram is a type of sonogram which means that it uses sound waves to take pictures of your heart and related structures. The system is very similar to sonar on a submarine. The […]
PFO anyone?
By Julian Booker MD Help!! It’s an emergency!! I have a hole in my heart!! My last doctor performed an echocardiogram and told me I have a patent foramen ovale (PFO). What does this mean? More importantly, what does this mean for me? The foramen ovale is a shunt that is a necessary component of […]