Patent Foramen Ovale and Hypoxemia

Abstract

Although the most common clinical manifestations of a patent foramen ovale (PFO) are cryptogenic stroke and migraine with aura, PFO is also associated with platypnea-orthodeoxia syndrome, obstructive sleep apnea, and chronic obstructive pulmonary disease with hypoxemia out of proportion to the extent of pulmonary disease. This article will discuss these conditions and summarize the related literature.

Keywords: Chronic bronchitis; Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease; Emphysema; Obstructive sleep apnea; Patent foramen ovale; Platypnea-orthodeoxia syndrome.