Platypnea-orthodeoxia syndrome after pneumonectomy relieved by mediastinal repositioning

Abstract

Platypnea-orthodeoxia is a rare syndrome characterized by hypoxemia in the upright position after pneumonectomy and relieved by recumbency. This syndrome is often a post-pneumonectomy complication due to intracardiac shunt, usually at the atrial level. We report a case after right pneumonectomy without interatrial shunt. The patient was successfully treated with a silicone prosthesis implant in the post-pneumonectomy space. We believe that correction of this clinical situation has not been previously described.