[Kyphoscoliosis and ascending aortic aneurysm: a new case of intermittent right-to-left shunting through a patent foramen oval].
Platypnaea-orthodeoxia syndrome is usually due to an atrial right-to-left shunt through a patent foramen ovale. We report a case of foramen ovale reopened an unusual circumstance. A 83-year-old patient presenting back pains since a few days was admitted in emergency for dyspnaea and refractory hypoxia. The only way to control her back pains was to stay seated in a kyphoscoliosis position. The imagery explorations pointed out an ascending aortic aneurysm, which compressed the right atrium and distorted the position of the atrial septum relative to caval inflow, when the patient was in her painless position, explaining this gravity-related refractory hypoxia.
Lemoël
F
F
Service d'accueil des urgences, hôpital Saint-Roch, CHU de Nice, Nice, France.
Quintard
H
H
Lena
D
D
Rami
L
L
Levraut
J
J
D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D001013:Aorta, Thoracic; D001014:Aortic Aneurysm / Q000150:complications*; D005260:Female; D006344:Heart Septal Defects, Atrial / Q000150:complications* / Q000503:physiopathology*; D006801:Humans; D007738:Kyphosis; D011187:Posture; D012039:Regional Blood Flow; D012600:Scoliosis