Incidence and morphometry of the oval forame patent in corpse

Abstract

Objective: To investigate the incidence and morphometry of the PFO in cadaverous human hearts knowing that the method and the acuity of the diagnostic examination interfere in the estimation of the incidence of the PFO. Method: Ninety human hearts were selected from the collection of cadaveric parts of the UFPE Department of Anatomy. Included in the study were human hearts that presented the right and left atria dissected for visualization of the internal structures, as well as having the intact interatrial septum (without dissection). Hearts whose atriums had been removed for visualization of the valve plan or the atriums had not been dissected were excluded. The study was divided into three stages, namely: (1) screening and selection of human hearts; (2) investigation of the presence of PFO in selected human hearts; and (3) morphometry of PFO. After screening, 40 cadaveric human hearts were selected to study the incidence and morphometry of the PFO. In each cadaverous human heart, the interatrial septum, the oval fossa and its limb were analyzed, and the presence or absence of the PFO by the right atrium and the left atrium. To perform the morphometry, a digital caliper was used and the vertical and horizontal diameters of the PFO were measured. Results: Of the 40 selected human hearts, only six had the PFO, indicating an incidence of 15%. PFO varied from 1 to 5 mm in the maximum potential diameter (mean = 3.5 mm). In addition, in one of the hearts was observed the existence of two patent oval foramens. Conclusion: Based on the results, an incidence of 15% of the PFO was observed, with an average of 3.5 mm of maximum potential diameter