Key result
PFO closure immediately resolves orthodeoxia in a patient presenting with stroke and intractable hypoxia.
Case Report (n=1)
PFO closure can provide immediate resolution of orthodeoxia in patients presenting with platypnea-orthodeoxia syndrome and stroke.
May prompt TEE for positional hypoxia; extends sparse case evidence on percutaneous shunt closure.
Platypnea-orthodeoxia syndrome is a rare phenomenon characterized by worsening hypoxia in an upright position and normal oxygen level in a supine position, mainly present as an intracardiac shunt in patients having a patent foramen ovale (PFO). Rarely can it be caused by intrapulmonary shunt and ventilation-perfusion mismatch. The diagnosis is made primarily by a transesophageal echocardiogram. The management is by closing the shunt with percutaneous implanted closure devices or, on rare occasions, surgically. Our patient is a 73-year-old male with a known case of PFO who presented as having a stroke and intractable hypoxia managed by the closure of his PFO with immediate resolution of his orthodeoxia.
No takes yet. Share an insight, caveat, or question.
Rababah et al. (2025) conducted a case report in Platypnea-orthodeoxia syndrome, patent foramen ovale, stroke, intractable hypoxia (n=1). Closure of patent foramen ovale was evaluated on Resolution of orthodeoxia. Closure of a patent foramen ovale in a 73-year-old male presenting with stroke and intractable hypoxia led to immediate resolution of his orthodeoxia.
Synapse has enriched 5 closely related papers on similar clinical questions. Consider them for comparative context: