Platypnea-orthodeoxia syndrome
Buikema, J.W.; van Geel, P.P.
Nederlands Tijdschrift Voor Geneeskunde 154: A2613
2010
ISSN/ISBN: 1876-8784 PMID: 21176252 Document Number: 641198
An 82-year-old woman presented with dyspnoea and palpitations. The patient was admitted to the cardiology ward on suspicion of atrial fibrillation and reduced cardiac output. Examination revealed position-dependent deoxygenation. Once acute cardiac or pulmonary pathologies were excluded a diagnosis of platypnea-orthodeoxia was considered. Diagnosis was confirmed by transoesophageal contrast echocardiography, which showed a patent foramen ovale. Curative treatment consisted of percutaneous closure of the foramen ovale. A persistent asymptomatic foramen ovale is common and can be revealed in later life. Platypnea-orthodeoxia syndrome is a relatively unfamiliar disorder.