A Patent Foramen Ovale (PFO) is found in over 75% of neonates and about 25-35% of normal adult hearts. A PFO may be associated with migraine headaches, stroke, myocardial infarction, orthodeoxia platypnea syndrome, decompression sickness and high-altitude pulmonary hypertension or edema. To date, there still exists controversy about which PFOs need closure. A much more common dilemma faced by the cardiologist is if there is a need for follow-up in all or certain patients with a PFO. METHODS: In September 2008, a survey was taken via PediHeartNet to find out the outpatient management of children diagnosed with a PFO. RESULTS: Out of 68 responses, we found that 40% of physicians do not schedule any follow-up for children with an isolated PFO. Only 6% of respondents would follow all children with any size PFO. About half of the physicians would recommend follow-up if unclear about the interatrial communication being a PFO or a small Atrial Septal Defect. The most chosen follow-up interval was one to two years. Of the group of "follow-up" responders, about 2/3 of them would reevaluate children with a prominent right ventricle, atrial septal aneurysm, atypical atrial shunt or a PFO larger than 3(to7)mm. Almost 1/2 of the "follow-up" responders stated that they wanted to confirm closure of the PFO as one of the reasons for a follow-up ehocardiogram. CONCLUSIONS: A recent survey in PediHeartNet shows that 40% of cardiologists do not schedule any follow-up for children with isolated PFO. Only 6% of respondents would follow all children.