Pulmonary embolus and patent foramen ovale: a rare cause of refractory hypoxaemia.
A patient with a large pulmonary embolus is described. The striking features were those of cardiovascular stability with hypoxaemia and hypercapnia. Cardiac catheterization confirmed the pulmonary embolus; in addition there was found to be a patent foramen ovale (PFO), causing a large right-to-left shunt. Removal of the pulmonary embolus and closure of the PFO dramatically improved alveolar-arterial oxygen gradient and ventilatory requirements.
Brydon
C
C
Department of Anaesthetics, St George's Hospital, London.
Fawcett
W J
WJ
Treasure
T
T
Clarke
J T
JT
D006344:Heart Septal Defects, Atrial / Q000150:complications*; D006801:Humans; D000860:Hypoxia / Q000209:etiology*; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D011655:Pulmonary Embolism / Q000150:complications*