Platypnea-Orthodeoxia Syndrome and COVID-19 Successfully Treated With Percutaneous Patent Foramen Ovale Closure: A Report of Two Cases and Literature Review

Platypnea-orthodeoxia syndrome (POS) is a rare clinical condition characterized by positional dyspnea and/or hypoxia. We report two cases of patients with COVID-19 bronchopneumonia with a torpid evolution. Due to clinical suspicion of POS, a diagnostic workup was performed, including a bubble echocardiography, which revealed a patent foramen ovale (PFO) with early and massive passage of bubbles to the left cavities. Both patients underwent percutaneous PFO closure with a resolution of POS. Here, we present the second and third cases of POS associated with PFO successfully closed during the acute phase of COVID-19. This suggests that PFO closure could be a potential treatment option for this condition.