Platypnea-orthodeoxia syndrome: a report of two cases

Acta Cardiol. 1993;48(6):583-90.

Abstract

Two cases of orthostatic dyspnea and arterial desoxygenation, as a postpneumonectomy complication, are reported. In one patient, echocardiography and cardiac catheterization revealed the presence of an atrial septal aneurysm, which has never been described in association with the platypnea-orthodeoxia syndrome. The other case illustrates that, despite actual technical possibilities, clinical suspicion remains a prerequisite for proper diagnosis of the entity.

Publication types

  • Case Reports

MeSH terms

  • Aged
  • Dyspnea / diagnosis
  • Dyspnea / etiology*
  • Heart Aneurysm / complications
  • Heart Aneurysm / diagnosis
  • Heart Septal Defects, Atrial / complications
  • Heart Septal Defects, Atrial / diagnosis
  • Heart Septum
  • Humans
  • Hypoxia / diagnosis
  • Hypoxia / etiology*
  • Male
  • Middle Aged
  • Posture*
  • Syndrome