[Platypnoea and orthodoexia syndrome, a rare cause of dyspoea].

Platypnoea-orthodeoxia is a rare syndrome of postural hypoxaemia accompanied by breathlessness. The dyspnoea is induced by upright posture. The definitive diagnosis is usually made by contrast echocardiography. The treatment of choice is surgical closure of the intracardiac communication which may result in dramatic symptomatic improvement.