Platypnea-Orthodeoxia Syndrome After Pneumonectomy Relieved by Mediastinal Repositioning

Platypnea-orthodeoxia Syndrome Diagnosed Using Contrast Transesophageal Echocardiography with Simultaneous SpO2 Monitoring

Platypnea-orthodeoxia syndrome (POS) is a rare condition characterized by interatrial right-to-left shunting that is exacerbated in the upright position. We herein report a 78-year-old woman with POS that remained undiagnosed for 2 years, despite repetitive transthoracic echocardiography (TTE). POS was ultimately diagnosed using contrast transesophageal echocardiography (TEE), which revealed a marked increase in right-to-left shunting in the sitting position, associated with simultaneous desaturation. Therefore, we propose that POS should be considered according to the clinical symptoms, regardless of the repetitive TTE results, and contrast TEE should be performed in both the supine and sitting positions to exclude a diagnosis of POS.

Platypnoea-orthodeoxia syndrome: novel cause for a known condition

A 50-year-old man presented with dyspnoea while sitting, standing and walking but resolved completely in supine position. On cardiorespiratory examinations, fine crackles were noted over bibasal area. Chest X-ray showed bilateral reticulonodular shadows, restrictive pattern on spirometry, elevated alveolar arterial O2 gradient on arterial blood gas. High-resolution CT of the thorax revealed pattern as 'confident' or 'certain' radiographic diagnosis of idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis (IPF). Bubble-contrast echocardiography in recumbent, sitting and upright positions revealed no intracardiac (right to left shunt) or intrapulmonary shunts. This case highlights the necessity of awareness of this syndrome in cases of interstitial lung diseases (ILDs) also. Although 188 cases have been described thus far of platypnoea-orthodeoxia syndrome (P-OS) of various aetiologies, to the best of our knowledge, it is the first ever case of P-OS in ILD/IPF. Both lung bases were predominantly affected in this patient, platypnoea and orthodeoxia were attributed to areas of low/zero ventilation/perfusion (V/Q) ratio (zone 1 phenomena) as no other obvious explanation was found.

Platypnea-Orthodeoxia syndrome after repair of a paraesophageal hernia

The Platypnea-Orthodeoxia syndrome is characterised by dyspnoea and deoxygenation accompanying a change from the recumbent to the upright position. An 81-year-old woman had an elective paraesophageal hernia repair. She developed dyspnoea and hypoxemia post-operatively that was worse when upright. An agitated saline echocardiogram revealed a right-to-left shunt through a patent foramen ovale that increased when the patient was upright. Over 3 weeks the patients' shunt, dyspnoea and hypoxemia improved and she was discharged home.

A case of platypnea orthodeoxia syndrome: a persistent history taking was the key to the diagnosis

A 79-year-old woman who had been suffering from dyspnea on effort for more than 50 years was admitted for further examination and treatment. On the screening respiratory examinations, the A-aDO<inf>2</inf> was elevated but none of diffusion disturbance, ventilation-perfusion ratio inequality nor right-to-left shunt was detected. Finally, the fact that the dizziness occurred only in sitting or standing position was revealed by persistent history taking. Transesophageal echocardiography in recumbent and sitting positions revealed the platypnea orthodeoxia syndrome associated with atrial septal defect. This case highlights the necessity of awareness of this syndrome and the occult atrial septal defect.

Platypnea orthodeoxia syndrome and bronchopleural fistula following right pneumonectomy: The first case of double misfortune following pneumonectomy

We report a case of post-pneumonectomy right to left shunting via patent foramen ovale (PFO) and bronchopleural fistula (BPF). Although the latter complication is well-known following pneumonectomy, the former is quite rare. In terms of post-pneumonectomy complications, no case has been reported, in which right to left shunting via PFO and BPF were synchronous. Low awareness of post-pneumonectomy PFO often results in delay of the appropriate management, like in our experience. The rarity and the complexity of our case as well as literature review of the post-pneumonectomy right to left shunting via PFO are summarized.With our case of post-pneumonectomy right to left shunting via PFO and BPF reviewed, we would like to show the rarity of our case and to enlighten all of the thoracic surgeons for early detection of this hemodynamic complication following pneumonectomy.

Platypnea-orthodeoxia diagnosed by sitting transesophageal echocardiography

Platypnea-orthodeoxia is a rare syndrome presenting with dyspnea and cyanosis induced by an upright position and relieved by recumbency. We report a patient with an excessively enlarged aortic root who had critical hypoxia due to a paradoxical shunt through the patent foramen ovale only when seated. The postural changes of the shunt, caused by changes in posture, were dynamically detected by transesophageal Doppler echocardiography. We believe that this syndrome should be considered when patients with aortic root dilatation present with inexplicable hypoxia, and that transesophageal Doppler echocardiography in the sitting position can be useful for detecting platypnea-orthodeoxia syndrome.

Platypnea and orthodeoxia associated with Pneumocystis jiroveci and Cytomegalovirus pneumonia: a case report

Introduction

Platypnea-orthodeoxia is an uncommon syndrome characterized by dyspnea and deoxygenation accompanying a change to a sitting or standing posture from a recumbent position. It is usually related to interatrial communications, although several other disorders associated with platypnea-orthodeoxia syndrome have been reported. However, the precise mechanisms are unknown.

Case presentation

We present the case of a 75-year-old Caucasian woman with chronic renal failure due to vasculitis who was admitted with fever and respiratory failure. She was found to have both Pneumocystis jiroveci and Cytomegalovirus pneumonia. She was HIV negative. Severe platypnea and orthodeoxia were major features of her illness with no history of respiratory, liver or cardiac disease. Further investigation with contrast echocardiography revealed no intracardiac or intrapulmonary shunts. Although one case involving Pneumocystis jiroveci pneumonia and platypnea has been previously reported, to the best of our knowledge, this is the first time that two opportunistic pathogens have been accompanied by platypnea and orthodeoxia. As both lung bases were predominantly affected and no obvious explanation was found, platypnea and orthodeoxia were attributed to significant areas of low or zero ventilation/perfusion (V/Q) ratio.

Conclusion

Platypnea-orthodeoxia is a rare and usually underestimated syndrome. Intracardiac shunts and anatomic pulmonary vascular shunts are the most common etiologic associations. However, if a detailed examination reveals no obvious intracardiac or intrapulmonary shunting combined with extensive pulmonary lesions, then severe V/Q mismatching should be considered as the probable explanation.