1. [A strange case of acute respiratory failure: the platypnea-orthodeoxia syndrome]
- Author
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Pietro, Pieri, Giuseppe, Vitale, Michela, Pieri, Benedetta, La Fata, Lucia, Buffa, Elio, Pieri, Salvatore, Marchì, Francesco, Pitrolo, and Giovanna, Geraci
- Subjects
Dyspnea ,Acute Disease ,Foramen Ovale, Patent ,Humans ,Female ,Syndrome ,Hypoxia ,Respiratory Insufficiency ,Patient Positioning ,Aged - Abstract
Platypnea-orthodeoxia syndrome is a rare disorder characterized by dyspnea and oxygen desaturation in upright position, with improvement of symptoms and blood oxygenation in supine position. Basically a right-to-left shunt (intracardiac or pulmonary) or a ventilation/perfusion mismatch are necessary to develop platypnea-orthodeoxia syndrome. Atrial septal defects, including patent foramen ovale (PFO), are known to be a frequent cause of platypnea-orthodeoxia syndrome. We describe herein the case of a 79-year-old woman with platypnea-orthodeoxia syndrome and PFO who developed a refractory worsening respiratory failure. Only the "rescue" emergency closure of PFO allowed the patient a clinical turning point with immediate and sustained respiratory improvement.
- Published
- 2020