Small defects (<5mm) usually doesnt affect patient natural history, therefore not required limitations on life or excercise. This type of ocassional findings in TTE required forward evaluation of: 1) Associate valvular disease, 2) Paradoxical embolism, 3) Pulmonary hypertension (>30 mmHG), Arrythmia (atrial fibrillation) or symptoms that indicate the possibility of therapeutic closure of the defect.

Ivan Smalyukh gives a talk at the LC2CAM 08 conference about nematic colloids, how they are bound, methods of assembly, localized defects, and exotic assembly.