By DoM Communications | Date published: March 5, 2026
Nikolaos Kakouros Discusses Heart Attacks and Patent Foramen Ovale in Recent Publication
Nikolaos Kakouros, MD, PhD, FRCP, FACC, FSC, professor of medicine in the Division of Cardiovascular Medicine, recently performed a procedure to close a congenital heart defect known as patent foramen ovale (PFO) in an 18-year-old patient after she suffered an embolic heart attack. According to Dr. Kakouros, heart attacks in someone as young as his patient are extremely rare, even with her condition. A 3D volumetric scan of the heart revealed a small amount of damage as a result of the heart attack, which, according to Dr. Kakouros, means there was a blockage at some point.
“The next detective steps were to figure out where that blockage came from," said Dr. Kakouros. "That sort of blockage that comes unexpectedly and blocks one of the vessels in the body, one of the arteries taking blood to the heart in this case, but also very commonly the brain; a little clot that can come from the venous side of the body, usually the legs."
Regarding this case, Dr. Kakouros encourages patients to stay up to date on their health, noting that hidden factors can contribute to serious medical emergencies like this one.