Congenital heart defects change the normal flow of blood through the heart. There are many different types of defects, ranging from simple defects with no symptoms to complex defects with severe, life-threatening symptoms. However, most defects are simple conditions that can be easily fixed or require no treatment.

Carrie Yarbrough never realized that she was born with a congenital heart defect. In fact, until she was 19 years old, she never had any problems. Then, one day, Yarbrough experienced noticeable vision loss in both eyes. She consulted with a neurologist and an ophthalmologist, although neither specialist was able to correctly diagnose her condition. The vision loss episodes occurred periodically over the course of the next several years.

“The medical specialists that I saw thought that perhaps I was having migraines,” says Yarbrough. “This seemed like a possibility since both of my parents had a history of migraines. However, I just knew that it had to be something else.”

Then, approximately ten years later, Yarbrough had an expressive aphasia incident, which hindered her ability to communicate through speech. This aphasia was accompanied by significant head pressure and pain. Alarmed by these symptoms, she went to the ER, and was referred to a cardiologist. 

Shortly thereafter, Yarbrough saw Denise Janosik, MD, a cardiologist at Saint Louis University Hospital. Dr. Janosik performed an echocardiogram and a ‘bubble test,’ both of which indicated that Yarbrough had a patent foramen ovale (PFO).

PFO is a common congenital heart defect. It affects approximately one out of every three or four people. While a baby grows in the womb, there is a normal opening between the left and right atria (upper chambers) of the heart. If this opening fails to close naturally soon after the baby is born, the hole is known as a PFO. The defect works like a flap valve, opening when there is more pressure inside the chest. The increased pressure occurs when a person is straining, coughing or sneezing.

With PFO, if the pressure is great enough, blood may travel from the right atrium to the left. If there is a clot traveling in the right side of the heart, it can cross through the PFO, enter the left side of the heart and travel to the brain (causing a stroke) or into a coronary artery (causing a heart attack). If a large PFO is left untreated, heart related difficulties may occur, such as labored breathing and recurrent respiratory infections.

In Yarbrough’s case, her PFO got progressively worse. She began experiencing numbness on her left side, head cloudiness, shortness of breath and lower energy levels. These effects slowly started to impede her daily life, especially while raising two children with another one on the way. Her condition was especially frightening when the symptoms flared up while she was by out in public with her children, where no one would know or understand her fogginess and aphasia episodes.

Yarbrough eventually consulted with Michael Lim, MD, associate professor of cardiology at Saint Louis University and director of the catheterization labs at SLU Hospital, to see if she was a candidate for the PFO closure procedure. “After reviewing Carrie’s PFO and medical history, I felt confident we could treat her, effectively eliminating the effects of the PFO and greatly improving her quality of life,” says Dr. Lim.

In October 2008, three months after giving birth to her third child, Yarbrough underwent the PFO closure procedure in the cardiac catheterization lab at SLU Hospital. With Yarbrough under light anesthesia, Dr. Lim gently threaded a catheter into a vein in her leg, guiding it up to her heart. A tiny closure device was pushed through the catheter and placed over the PFO. Heart tissue eventually grows over the device, ultimately repairing the hole. The entire procedure was performed without the use of a bypass machine. 

After the procedure, Yarbrough stayed overnight at the hospital for observation. She experienced no side effects and was back on her feet in no time. Her only follow up treatment is taking a daily aspirin for six months. More importantly, Yarbrough has not experienced any of the symptoms that she previously contended with. Her energy levels have dramatically improved, even with three children keeping her busy. She also regularly enjoys bike spinning classes. 

“I am so glad that I decided to undergo the PFO closure procedure,” says Yarbrough. “Having peace of mind and no longer worrying about future heart-related issues was more than reason enough for me to do this. Plus, the procedure was incredibly easy.”

For more information about PFO and available treatments, please call SLU Hospital’s Cardiac Cath Lab at 314-577-8881 or visit www.sluhospital.com.