title: [Right-left auricular shunt caused by patent foramen ovale at a multi-purpose intensive care unit. Apropos of 3 cases].
abstract: Three cases of symptomatic right-to-left interatrial shunt through a patent foramen ovale were detected in the course of a case of paradoxical embolism related to a massive pulmonary embolism, a case of refractory hypoxemia after cardiopulmonary bypass and a case of refractory hypoxemia in a patient with tricuspid endocarditis. According to anatomic studies, the incidence of patent foramen ovale is 25-30% in healthy people. In that case any pathological event generating an increase in the right atrial pressure higher than the left atrial pressure may induce a right-to-left shunt with systemic arterial desaturation and possible paradoxical embolization. The reported cases emphasize the advantage of ultrasonic examinations (contrast sonocardiography, pulsated or coloured Doppler) to show the right-to-left atrial shunt. The demonstration of this acquired shunt requires appropriate measures in order to reverse the atrial gradient. Sometimes a specific therapy is required such as caval filter insertion in case of pulmonary embolization or surgical closure of foramen ovale in some patients.
authors.forename: P
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Morelon
authors.forename: C
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Girardot
authors.forename: J C
authors.initials: JC
authors.lastname: Eicher
authors.forename: J F
authors.initials: JF
authors.lastname: Obadia
authors.forename: P
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Louis
authors.forename: J
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Bouhey
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D004452:Echocardiography; D004617:Embolism / Q000209:etiology*; D005260:Female; D006344:Heart Septal Defects, Atrial / Q000150:complications* / Q000175:diagnosis; D006801:Humans; D000860:Hypoxia / Q000209:etiology*; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged
vernacular_title: Shunt auriculaire droite-gauche par foramen ovale perméable en réanimation polyvalente. A propos de trois observations.