Echocardiographic diagnosis of platypnoea-orthodeoxia syndrome after blunt chest trauma

[Platypnea: оne more type position shortness of breath]

The article presents modern data on the causes of platypnea, methods of its diagnosis and treatment. The data on the development of platypnea syndrome are given not only in cardiac pathology, but also in severe liver diseases with the development of hepatopulmonary syndrome and chronic obstructive pulmonary disease of a severe course.

Orthodeoxia—An Uncommon Presentation following Bilateral Thoracic Sympathectomy

We present a case of orthodeoxia (postural hypoxaemia) which resulted from a combination of lung collapse/consolidation and blunted hypoxic pulmonary vasoconstriction due to partial interruption of the sympathetic nerve supply to the lung by bilateral thoracic sympathectomy

The multiple dimensions of Platypnea-Orthodeoxia syndrome: A review

Platypnea-Orthodeoxia syndrome (POS) is a rare clinical entity characterized by dyspnea and arterial desaturation while in the upright position. The various pathophysiologic mechanisms leading to POS has puzzled clinicians for years. The hypoxia in POS has been attributed to the mixing of the deoxygenated venous blood with the oxygenated arterial blood via a shunt. The primary mechanisms of POS in these patients can be broadly classified based on intracardiac abnormalities, extracardiac abnormalities and miscellaneous etiologies. A Patent Foramen Ovale (PFO) was the most common reported site of an intracardiac shunt. In addition to PFO, intracardiac shunt leading to POS has been reported from either an Atrial Septal Defect (ASD) or an Atrial Septal Aneurysm (ASA). Most patients with an intracardiac shunt also demonstrated a secondary anatomic or a functional defect. Extracardiac causes of POS included intra-pulmonary arteriovenous malformations and lung parenchymal diseases. A systematic evaluation is necessary to identify the underlying cause and institute an appropriate intervention. We conducted a review of literature and reviewed 239 cases of POS. In this article, we review the etiology and pathophysiology of POS and also summarize the diagnostic algorithms and treatment modalities available for early diagnosis and prompt treatment of patients presenting with symptoms of platypnea and/or orthodeoxia.

Platypnea-orthodeoxia syndrome: an unusual complication of partial liver resection

Platypnea-orthodeoxia syndrome (POS) is a rare syndrome of severe hypoxemia upon assuming an upright position. It is classically described as shunting from the right atrium to the left atrium usually via a patent foramen ovale (PFO). Alterations in the intrathoracic anatomy after liver resection and regeneration may trigger this condition in patients with clinically silent PFO -a previously unreported cause of POS.

Platypnoea-orthodeoxia syndrome: novel cause for a known condition

A 50-year-old man presented with dyspnoea while sitting, standing and walking but resolved completely in supine position. On cardiorespiratory examinations, fine crackles were noted over bibasal area. Chest X-ray showed bilateral reticulonodular shadows, restrictive pattern on spirometry, elevated alveolar arterial O2 gradient on arterial blood gas. High-resolution CT of the thorax revealed pattern as 'confident' or 'certain' radiographic diagnosis of idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis (IPF). Bubble-contrast echocardiography in recumbent, sitting and upright positions revealed no intracardiac (right to left shunt) or intrapulmonary shunts. This case highlights the necessity of awareness of this syndrome in cases of interstitial lung diseases (ILDs) also. Although 188 cases have been described thus far of platypnoea-orthodeoxia syndrome (P-OS) of various aetiologies, to the best of our knowledge, it is the first ever case of P-OS in ILD/IPF. Both lung bases were predominantly affected in this patient, platypnoea and orthodeoxia were attributed to areas of low/zero ventilation/perfusion (V/Q) ratio (zone 1 phenomena) as no other obvious explanation was found.

Platypnea-orthodeoxia: a rare complication after repair of a contained rupture of an abdominal aortic aneurysm

After open repair of a contained rupture of a giant abdominal aortic aneurysm, the patient, a 67-year-old man, developed respiratory insufficiency, and his hemoglobin oxygen saturation dramatically decreased when his position was changed from supine to upright. Transesophageal echocardiography revealed platypnea-orthodeoxia syndrome due to a patent foramen ovale and subsequent right-to-left-shunting despite normal intracardiac pressures. After interventional patent foramen ovale closure, the patient could be separated from the respirator without difficulty.

Platypnea orthodeoxia: a 'laid-back' case of dyspnoea

A man with end-stage liver disease who presented with shortness of breath. He exhibited clinical platypnea (worsening shortness of breath on sitting up) and orthodeoxia (oxygen desaturation on sitting up). Follow-up investigations led to the diagnosis of hepatopulmonary syndrome.

Platypnea-orthodeoxia: Report of Two Cases and Review of the Literature

We describe two unusual cases of platypnea. The first patient had chronic obstructive pulmonary disease, but platypnea did not respond to chronic obstructive pulmonary disease therapy. He was found to have multiple pulmonary emboli, and symptoms rapidly improved on anticoagulation therapy. The second patient had Parkinson disease and developed severe platypnea, an association that has not been previously described. She had significant postural hypotension and responded to therapy with fludrocortisone.