Oval fossa

Oval foramen is a vital channel necessary for fetal development. Umbilical venous blood from the mother also enters the left heart cavity of the fetus through this channel and then is distributed throughout the body to provide oxygen and nutrients required for fetal development. When the child was born, with the first cry, the pressure of the left atrium increased, and the oval fossa flap was pressed on the edge of the oval fossa to form a functional closure. The anatomical complete closure usually takes 5-7 months after birth . Therefore, it is possible to remain open within one year, there may be a small amount of shunt, and even 5% -10% of human oval holes remain open and not closed for life, but have no effect on the hemodynamics of the heart. Therefore, the opening of the oval foramen in infants is a normal physiological phenomenon, not congenital heart disease, and generally does not require surgery. However, if the defect in the center of the atrial septum is large, greater than 8-10 mm, and the partial flow is large, it is called a central atrial septal defect and requires surgical repair. The timing of the operation should be completed at the age of 2-4 years.

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