patent foramen ovale

patent

1. open, unobstructed, or not closed.

2. apparent, evident.

---

patent ductus arteriosus (PDA)

abnormal persistence of an open lumen in the ductus arteriosus, between the aorta and the pulmonary artery, after birth. The ductus arteriosus is open during prenatal life, allowing most of the blood of the fetus to bypass the lungs, but normally this channel closes shortly before birth. When the ductus arteriosus remains open, it places special burdens on the left ventricle and causes a diminished blood flow in the aorta. May remain open for up to 5 days in foals. One of the most common congenital heart defects in dogs, but less common in cats. Causes a continuous 'machinery' murmur loud in systole, soft in diastole, and 'bounding' pulse.

patent ductus venosus

see ductus venosus.

patent foramen ovale

see foramen ovale (1).

patent medicine

a drug or remedy protected by a trademark, available without a prescription.

patent period

the period during a disease in which the causative agent can be detected by clinicopathological tests, e.g. for helminth eggs.

patent urachus

the urachus persists after birth and allows urine to drip out of the bladder through the umbilicus. See also urachus.

patent ventricular septum

includes several entities characterized by incomplete closure of ventricular wall. Characterized by palpable cardiac thrill and audible pansystolic murmur on both sides of the chest at birth, accompanied by exercise intolerance and developing dyspnea at rest.

---

patent foramen ovale

PFO Cardiology An opening between the left and right atria which allows blood to bypass the lungs in utero; the FO normally closes shortly after birth, but remains open in up to 20%; a PFO is, in absence of other cardiac defects, is of no consequence