# Patent foramen ovale leads to transient loss of consciousness: case reports

## TL;DR

This paper reports four cases where a heart condition called patent foramen ovale was linked to episodes of sudden, temporary loss of consciousness.

## Contribution

The paper provides new clinical insights into the association between patent foramen ovale and transient loss of consciousness.

## Key findings

- Four patients with transient loss of consciousness were found to have patent foramen ovale.
- The study discusses a possible mechanism linking PFO to TLOC.
- The findings suggest PFO should be considered in the differential diagnosis of TLOC.

## Abstract

Patent foramen ovale (PFO) is a congenital heart condition with a prevalence of 20%–35% in the general population. It is associated with various paroxysmal neurological seizures. We report four patients who presented to our hospital with transient loss of consciousness (TLOC). They were diagnosed with PFO after a comprehensive examination. In this article, we discuss the mechanism related to PFO and TLOC, which provides a new clinical perspective for the diagnosis of TLOC.