Platypnea-orthodeoxia syndrome is an intriguing condition that comprehends multiple pathologic phenomena. It requires a high clinical suspicion and is probably underdiagnosed. Its identification has therapeutic implications and can have a huge impact on the patient’s everyday life. We made a review of the literature and analyzed 188 cases described thus far, trying to identify the underlying mechanisms and risk factors. We propose that a separate entity is created within the spectrum of platypnea-orthodeoxia syndrome that is responsible for the majority of cases, namely platypnea-orthodeoxia disease, which would be defined as the existence of an interatrial communication, with a right-to-left shunt, normal pressure in the right atrium and, of course, platypnea and orthodeoxia. Most patients with this disease were submitted to percutaneous closure of the patent foramen ovale or atrial septal defect, with favorable results, making it the first-line therapeutic approach nowadays.
Dyspnea and hypoxemia are among the most common symptoms and signs that need to be assessed in clinical practice. This case illustrates how simple steps in history taking and physical examination can be crucial for diagnosis. We present a patient with intermittent hypoxemia, initially attributed to a pulmonary infection. However, the hypoxemia persisted even after successful treatment of the infection. Computed tomography angiography of the chest and ventilation/perfusion lung scan excluded pulmonary embolism. We then observed that the hypoxemia and dyspnea were triggered by orthostatism. An echocardiogram with a bubble test showed a patent foramen ovale, with a right-to-left shunt, without pulmonary hypertension. After percutaneous closure of the foramen ovale, the symptoms completely resolved. This is a case of platypnea-orthodeoxia syndrome, which is usually associated with patent foramen ovale or atrial septal defect and is typically observed in the elderly. The features and causes of this curious syndrome are discussed.
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