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[Platypnea-orthodeoxia syndrome: case report]
L Roche1, G Rioufol, G Piszker
1Département de cardiologie, centre hospitalier Saint-Joseph-Saint-Luc, 20, quai Claude Bernard, 69365 Lyon cedex 07, France.
Annales De Cardiologie Et D'Angeiologie
|September 25, 2013
Summary
An 80-year-old woman experienced low blood oxygen (hypoxemia) due to a heart defect called a patent foramen ovale. Symptoms improved when she stood up, and resolved after the shunt was closed.
Area of Science:
- Cardiology
- Pulmonary Medicine
- Medical Case Reports
Background:
- Patent foramen ovale (PFO) is a common cardiac anomaly.
- Right-to-left shunting through a PFO can lead to paradoxical embolism and hypoxemia.
- Postural variations in shunting are typically associated with platypnea-orthodeoxia syndrome.
Observation:
- An 80-year-old female presented with symptomatic hypoxemia.
- Hypoxemia worsened in the supine position and improved in the upright position.
- The patient's symptoms were attributed to a right-to-left shunt through a PFO.
Findings:
- The postural hypoxemia demonstrated characteristics similar to platypnea-orthodeoxia syndrome.
- Resolution of the shunt led to complete symptom remission.
- This case highlights a less common presentation of PFO-associated hypoxemia.
Implications:
- PFO should be considered in the differential diagnosis of unexplained postural hypoxemia.
- Understanding shunt dynamics is crucial for managing PFO-related complications.
- Successful closure of the PFO resolved the patient's debilitating symptoms.
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