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Updated: Oct 9, 2026

Increasing Pulmonary Artery Pulsatile Flow Improves Hypoxic Pulmonary Hypertension in Piglets
Published on: May 11, 2015
[Recurrent hypoxemia secondary to a patent foramen ovale. Report of one case]
Franco Appiani, Polentzi Uriarte1, Rosario Fernández
1aff1, Chile.
Abstract:
Patent foramen ovale (PFO) is a prevalent congenital septal atrial defect usually without pathological significance. In certain pathogenic situations, PFO can trigger episodes of recurrent hypoxemia, a specific condition known as platipnea-orthodeoxia syndrome (POS). We report a 73 years old female presenting with dyspnea and low arterial oxygen saturation. On admission the patient had a hemoglobin saturation of 81% and an arterial oxygen partial pressure of 50 mmHg. After breathing 100% a 17% arterial-venous shunt was found (normal: less than 12%). A transesophageal echocardiogram and a cardiac catheterization showed the presence of a PFO. A percutaneous closure was performed.
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