[Dyspnea after pneumonectomy due to atrial septum defect].
A 55-year-old woman presented with complaints of recurrent dyspnoea one year after pneumonectomy carried out as treatment for a tumour of the left lung. During several months her symptoms progressed and eventually mechanical ventilation became necessary. On admission a patent foramen ovale was found with transoesophageal ultrasound but this was judged not to be the cause of her symptoms. The pulmonary angiogram showed a intracardiac shunt with no intrapulmonary shunts. After repeated transoesophageal ultrasound a second defect was found of a sinus venosus type. This large defect was proven to be clinically significant during catherisation of the heart, when occlusion with a balloon was performed. After surgical repair of these defects with an artificial patch, the patient recovered well. Since then she has been without complaints.
Afd. Intensive Care, Onze Lieve Vrouwe Gasthuis, Amsterdam. benner@kg.nl
P M
PM
Benner
R J
RJ
Bosman
P A
PA
van der Wouw
D003937:Diagnosis, Differential; D004417:Dyspnea / Q000209:etiology*; D017548:Echocardiography, Transesophageal; D005260:Female; D006344:Heart Septal Defects, Atrial / Q000150:complications* / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000628:therapy; D006801:Humans; D008175:Lung Neoplasms / Q000601:surgery; D008875:Middle Aged; D011013:Pneumonectomy / Q000009:adverse effects*; D016896:Treatment Outcome