Abstract
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.
| Translated title of the contribution | Platypnea-orthodeoxia syndrome |
|---|---|
| Original language | Dutch |
| Pages (from-to) | A2613 |
| Journal | Nederlands Tijdschrift voor Geneeskunde |
| Volume | 154 |
| Publication status | Published - 2010 |
Keywords
- Aged, 80 and over
- Arrhythmias, Cardiac/diagnosis
- Diagnosis, Differential
- Dyspnea/diagnosis
- Echocardiography
- Echocardiography, Transesophageal
- Female
- Foramen Ovale, Patent/complications
- Humans
- Hypoxia/diagnosis
- Posture
- Syndrome