Constrictive pericarditis-induced shunting through a PFO: Persistence despite pericardiectomy

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Updated: Feb 27, 2026

Closure of a Patent Foramen Ovale PFO: An Intervention Sequence
10:52

Closure of a Patent Foramen Ovale PFO: An Intervention Sequence

Published on: December 23, 2022

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Emily Schuiteman1, Thomas Verrill2, Nader Mina3

  • 1Department of Internal Medicine, Beaumont Hospital - Royal Oak, Royal Oak, MI, 48073, USA.

Respiratory Medicine Case Reports
|June 27, 2017
PubMed

Insights

Patent foramen ovale (PFO), common but often silent, can cause severe hypoxic respiratory failure when right heart pressures rise. This case highlights PFO closure as a resolution for refractory hypoxia due to constrictive pericarditis.

Area of Science:

  • Cardiology
  • Pulmonology
  • Medical Case Studies

Background:

  • Patent foramen ovale (PFO) is prevalent in 25-30% of adults, typically asymptomatic due to left-to-right shunting.
  • PFOs are rarely suspected in hypoxic respiratory failure unless right heart pressures are elevated.
  • Elevated right heart pressures can reverse shunt direction, causing significant right-to-left blood flow.
Keywords:
Constrictive physiologyDevice closureHemodynamicsHypoxia

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