In our clinical work, we have encountered many times parents coming to the hospital and finding that their children have small traffic in the atrial septum, mostly under 5mm in diameter, during hospital checkups, and requesting surgery for their children. In fact, this condition, medically known as unclosed foramen ovale, is a normal physiological phenomenon in infancy and is not a precardiac disease. Most children will close on their own as they grow and develop, and even if they do not, they do not need surgery. The foramen ovale is a vital channel necessary for the development of the fetus, and it is through this channel that blood from the mother’s umbilical vein enters the left side of the fetus’ heart cavity and is then distributed throughout the body to provide the oxygen and nutrients needed for fetal development. At birth, with the first cry, the left atrial pressure rises and the foramen ovale should close functionally. However, the foramen ovale may remain open up to one year of age and may have a small shunt, and in even 5-10% of individuals, the foramen ovale will remain open for life without closing, with no significant effect on the hemodynamics of the heart. If the central atrial septal defect is large, such as greater than 8-10 mm (millimeters), with a large shunt flow, it is called a central atrial septal defect and requires surgical repair.