Jove
Visualize
Contact Us
JoVE
x logofacebook logolinkedin logoyoutube logo
ABOUT JoVE
OverviewLeadershipBlogJoVE Help Center
AUTHORS
Publishing ProcessEditorial BoardScope & PoliciesPeer ReviewFAQSubmit
LIBRARIANS
TestimonialsSubscriptionsAccessResourcesLibrary Advisory BoardFAQ
RESEARCH
JoVE JournalMethods CollectionsJoVE Encyclopedia of ExperimentsArchive
EDUCATION
JoVE CoreJoVE BusinessJoVE Science EducationJoVE Lab ManualFaculty Resource CenterFaculty Site
Terms & Conditions of Use
Privacy Policy
Policies

Related Experiment Videos

Sabrine Majdoub Fehri1, Wafa Fekih1, Mohamed Khrouf1

  • 1Department of Pneumology, Gabes Teaching Hospital, Faculty of Medicine of Sfax, University of Sfax, Tunisia.

La Tunisie Medicale
|February 19, 2024
PubMed
Summary
This summary is machine-generated.

Related Concept Videos

You might also read

Related Articles

Articles linked to this work by shared authors, journal, and citation graph.

Sort by
Same author

Spontaneous coronary artery dissection cohort study: A nationwide Tunisian series.

La Tunisie medicale·2026
Same author

The International Glossary on Infertility and Fertility Care, 2025†.

Fertility and sterility·2026
Same author

The International Glossary on Infertility and Fertility Care, 2025†.

Human reproduction (Oxford, England)·2026
Same author

Internal concentrations of cadmium, nickel and zinc in the land snail Cornu aspersum and human health risk assessment for consumers: a case study in tunisian regions.

Environmental geochemistry and health·2026
Same author

Conservative Management of an Iatrogenic Left Ventricular Pseudo Aneurysm After Type A Aortic Dissection Surgery.

Journal of the Saudi Heart Association·2026
Same author

La Tunisie medicale·2026

Hepatopulmonary syndrome, characterized by liver disease and low oxygen levels, can cause shortness of breath. This case highlights its diagnosis in a patient with cirrhosis and pulmonary vascular dilatation.

Area of Science:

  • Cardiology
  • Pulmonology
  • Hepatology

Background:

  • Hepatopulmonary syndrome (HPS) is a serious complication of liver disease, defined by liver disease, abnormal pulmonary gas exchange causing arterial deoxygenation, and widespread pulmonary vascular dilatation.
  • Dyspnea is a common symptom in patients with liver disease, and HPS is a frequent cause.

Observation:

  • A 32-year-old woman with cirrhosis and portal hypertension presented with progressively worsening dyspnea.
  • Arterial blood gas analysis revealed profound hypoxemia (PaO2 of 42mmHg), which was clinically well tolerated.
  • CT pulmonary angiography excluded pulmonary embolism and pneumonia. Echocardiography suggested a patent foramen ovale, and transthoracic contrast echocardiography confirmed significant pulmonary vascular dilatation.

Findings:

  • The diagnosis of hepatopulmonary syndrome was established based on the triad of cirrhosis, pulmonary vascular dilatation, and hypoxemia.

Related Experiment Videos

  • The patient's hypoxemia, despite being severe, was well tolerated, underscoring the complex presentation of HPS.

    • Implications:

    • This case underscores the importance of considering hepatopulmonary syndrome in patients with liver disease presenting with unexplained dyspnea and hypoxemia.
    • Early diagnosis and recognition of HPS are crucial for appropriate management and can guide further investigations, such as echocardiography, to identify underlying vascular abnormalities and potential shunts.
    • Understanding the association between liver disease severity, pulmonary vascular changes, and gas exchange abnormalities is vital for improving patient outcomes.