title: Patent foramen ovale causing refractory hypoxemia after off-pump coronary artery bypass: a case report.
abstract: Patent foramen ovale (PFO) is not uncommon in the adult population undergoing cardiac surgery. Although usually innocent, PFO can cause severe hypoxemia, which can be reversed only by surgical or interventional interruption of the interatrial right-to-left shunt. Such a case is presented, and the diagnosis and pathophysiology are discussed.
authors.affiliation: Department of Surgery and Medicine, Sections of Cardiac Surgery and Cardiology, Holy Cross Hospital, Fort Lauderdale, Florida, USA. itabry@bellsouth.net
authors.forename: Imad
authors.initials: I
authors.lastname: Tabry
authors.forename: Luis
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Villanueva
authors.forename: Edward
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Walker
mesh_terms: D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D001026:Coronary Artery Bypass / Q000379:methods*; D003327:Coronary Disease / Q000601:surgery*; D006344:Heart Septal Defects, Atrial / Q000150:complications* / Q000601:surgery; D006801:Humans; D000860:Hypoxia / Q000209:etiology*; D008297:Male; D011183:Postoperative Complications