title: Platypnea-orthodeoxia: management by transcatheter buttoned device implantation.
abstract: Dyspnea and arterial desaturation on upright position in elderly subjects is described as platypnea-orthodeoxia syndrome (POS) and in some patients it is due to right-to-left shunt across the atrial septal defect (ASD)/patent foramen ovale (PFO). Surgical closure of ASD/PFO has been the only available treatment option. Buttoned device has been used for occlusion of ostium secundum ASD, PFO associated with presumed paradoxical embolism and cerebrovascular accidents and ASD/PFO in association with other congenital heart defects causing right-to-left shunt. The objective of this article is to describe the use of buttoned device in effectively occluding ASD/PFO to relieve hypoxemia of POS. During a 4-year period ending January 2000, 10 patients, ages 71 +/- 9 (range 60-83) years with POS underwent buttoned device closure of their ASD/PFO. Echocardiographic and balloon-stretched atrial defect sizes were 8 +/- 3 mm and 12 +/- 3 mm, respectively. The ASD/PFO were occluded with devices ranging in size from 25 to 40 mm delivered via 9 French, long, blue Cook sheaths; eight had an additional 25- or 35-mm occluder placed on the right atrial side. The oxygen saturation increased (P < 0.001) from 76 +/- 7% (range 69-86%) to 95 +/- 2% (range 92-98%). No complications were encountered. Relief of symptoms was seen in all patients. Follow-up of 1-36 months (median 12 months) revealed persistent improvement of symptoms. Buttoned device occlusion of ASD/PFO to relieve hypoxemia of POS is feasible, safe, and effective and is an excellent alternative to surgery. Cathet Cardiovasc Intervent 2001;54:77-82.
authors.affiliation: Saint Louis University School of Medicine, St. Louis, Missouri 63104, USA. raops@slu.edu
authors.forename: P S
authors.initials: PS
authors.lastname: Rao
authors.forename: I F
authors.initials: IF
authors.lastname: Palacios
authors.forename: R G
authors.initials: RG
authors.lastname: Bach
authors.forename: S R
authors.initials: SR
authors.lastname: Bitar
authors.forename: E B
authors.initials: EB
authors.lastname: Sideris
mesh_terms: D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D021721:Balloon Occlusion; D017023:Coronary Angiography; D004417:Dyspnea / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000209:etiology / Q000628:therapy*; D005260:Female; D006344:Heart Septal Defects, Atrial / Q000150:complications / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000628:therapy*; D006801:Humans; D000860:Hypoxia / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000209:etiology / Q000628:therapy*; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D019736:Prostheses and Implants; D019919:Prosthesis Implantation