Postural nausea due to platypnea orthodeoxia

Abstract

Platypnea orthodeoxia is an uncommon condition but given its associations with severe lung disease and advancing age, it might be seen in the palliative care population. Presentation is classical in the association of symptoms with postural change. It should be considered when patients present with breathlessness or desaturation given the minimally invasive tests of echocardiography, and the potential for procedural resolution of the defect and thus symptoms. Further, there has not previously been reported a case presenting with nausea (rather than dyspnoea) secondary to platypnea orthodeoxia syndrome. This unusual presentation is a reminder that there is a broad range of potential subjective experiences of the same physiological events. Careful history and examination are vital in elucidating the underlying cause.

Mecanismos del síndrome de platipnea-ortodesoxia

“…Classically, the postural change from decubitus to upright is the known trigger for dyspnea; nevertheless, it has also been reported during right lateral decubitus 5 . Bradley et al found nausea more than dyspnea as a leading POS symptom, reflecting the broad spectrum of unspecific manifestations potentially related to the same physiological event 6 . Since the first POS report, more than 200 cases have been described.…”