OBJECTIVE: Patent foramen ovale (PFO) is frequent but rarely associated with platypnea-orthodeoxia syndrome and with no pulmonary hypertension. MATERIALS AND METHODS: We performed a retrospective analysis of 12 consecutive patients with hypoxemia and PFO without increased pulmonary arterial pressure. The study was conducted at a single-center university hospital. We analyzed the patients' clinical records, gas exchange, contrast echocardiography studies, and survival. RESULTS: Twelve patients, aged 73.1 +/- 9.5 years, were diagnosed with PFO between 1993 and 2005. All patients experienced dyspnea and/or hypoxemia. Six right hemidiaphragmatic elevations were observed on radiography. The shunt was apparent in three patients using transthoracic echocardiography and in all patients using transesophageal echocardiography. The mean follow-up was 27.6 +/- 32.9 months. The PFO was closed in eight patients, six via percutaneous approach and two via surgery. CONCLUSION: PFO may be patent and responsible for hypoxemia without pulmonary hypertension. This condition is easily recognized with transesophageal echocardiography, leading in most cases to a percutaneous closure resulting in a dramatic correction of hypoxemia.
OBJECTIVE:Patent foramen ovale (PFO) is frequent but rarely associated with platypnea-orthodeoxia syndrome and with no pulmonary hypertension. MATERIALS AND METHODS: We performed a retrospective analysis of 12 consecutive patients with hypoxemia and PFO without increased pulmonary arterial pressure. The study was conducted at a single-center university hospital. We analyzed the patients' clinical records, gas exchange, contrast echocardiography studies, and survival. RESULTS: Twelve patients, aged 73.1 +/- 9.5 years, were diagnosed with PFO between 1993 and 2005. All patients experienced dyspnea and/or hypoxemia. Six right hemidiaphragmatic elevations were observed on radiography. The shunt was apparent in three patients using transthoracic echocardiography and in all patients using transesophageal echocardiography. The mean follow-up was 27.6 +/- 32.9 months. The PFO was closed in eight patients, six via percutaneous approach and two via surgery. CONCLUSION: PFO may be patent and responsible for hypoxemia without pulmonary hypertension. This condition is easily recognized with transesophageal echocardiography, leading in most cases to a percutaneous closure resulting in a dramatic correction of hypoxemia.
Authors: Kayla L Moses; Arij G Beshish; Nicole Heinowski; Kim R Baker; David F Pegelow; Marlowe W Eldridge; Melissa L Bates Journal: Am J Physiol Regul Integr Comp Physiol Date: 2014-11-12 Impact factor: 3.619
Authors: Andrea Rueda Liñares; Jose Alberto de Agustin; Jose Juan Gomez de Diego; Patricia Mahía; Pedro Marcos-Alberca; Carlos Macaya; Leopoldo Pérez de Isla Journal: J Echocardiogr Date: 2017-08-22
Authors: Stanislav Henkin; Sara Negrotto; Peter M Pollak; Michael W Cullen; D Fearghas O'Cochlain; R Scott Wright Journal: Tex Heart Inst J Date: 2015-10-01