A pulmonologist would order a bubble study to diagnose and investigate any possible small holes or a flap in your heart.
A bubble study is useful after a stroke or a heart attack to help identify if you have a foramen ovale or atrial septal defect that could be responsible for a stroke or heart attack.
A PFO is a small hole that is between the upper chambers of your heart that is often harmless but can sometimes cause rare strokes.
A bubble study may also be used after a regular echocardiogram if the regular echocardiogram shows any evidence of a possible congenital heart defect or any blood flow issues and a bubble study can give more information.
During a bubble study a saline solution is mixed with air and is injected into a vein and the patient then performs a Valsalva maneuver.
The results of the bubble study will show if any bubbles appear on the left side of the heart which indicates a positive test and a likely hole in the heart.
The symptoms of a PFO include shortness of breath, chest pain and even a stroke if a blood clot travels from the right atrium to the left atrium blocks a blood vessel in the brain.
A PFO is also known as a patent foramen ovale which is a small opening between the two upper chambers of your heart or atria and remains open after birth.
During the fetal development a structure called the foramen ovale allows blood to flow from the right to the left atrium and bypasses the lungs.
In most people the structure closes normally shortly after birth.
Although in some people it remains open or patent.