title: Intermittent hypoxia due to right atrial compression by an ascending aortic aneurysm.
abstract: Two cases are described wherein right atrial compression from a dilated and elongated ascending aorta caused intermittent positional hypoxia. Extrinsic compression of the right atrium caused shunting though a patent foramen ovale.
authors.affiliation: Division of Thoracic Surgery, Allegheny General Hospital, Hahnemann University, Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, USA.
authors.forename: E B
authors.initials: EB
authors.lastname: Savage
authors.forename: D H
authors.initials: DH
authors.lastname: Benckart
authors.forename: B C
authors.initials: BC
authors.lastname: Donahue
authors.forename: F M
authors.initials: FM
authors.lastname: Casaday
authors.forename: Y D
authors.initials: YD
authors.lastname: Cho
mesh_terms: D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D001014:Aortic Aneurysm / Q000150:complications*; D004108:Dilatation, Pathologic / Q000150:complications; D005260:Female; D006325:Heart Atria; D006331:Heart Diseases / Q000209:etiology*; D006344:Heart Septal Defects, Atrial / Q000150:complications; D006801:Humans; D000860:Hypoxia / Q000209:etiology*; D011187:Posture