title: Orthodeoxia-platypnea syndrome presenting as paradoxical peripheral embolism.
abstract: A paradoxical embolus associated with orthodeoxia-platypnea syndrome and intracardiac shunting is extremely uncommon. We present a patient who was found to have a positional change in desaturation after a right pneumonectomy who suffered from gangrene of the right foot and simultaneous deep venous thrombosis of the left arm. Workup revealed a patent foramen ovale as a cause for both the right-to-left shunt and the paradoxical emboli. After percutaneous closure the orthodeoxia resolved. This case highlights the necessity of heightened awareness of this syndrome in case of severe hypoxemia after pneumonectomy and the importance of an occult patent foramen ovale.
authors.affiliation: Department of Thoracic and Vascular Surgery, University Hospital of Antwerp, Edegem, Antwerp, Belgium.
authors.forename: Sophie
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Delalieux
authors.forename: Kathleen
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: De Greef
authors.forename: Jeroen
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Hendriks
authors.forename: Patrick
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Lauwers
authors.forename: Bert
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Suys
authors.forename: Paul
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Van Schil
mesh_terms: D001132:Arm / Q000098:blood supply*; D001367:Axillary Vein; D002294:Carcinoma, Squamous Cell / Q000601:surgery*; D006328:Cardiac Catheterization; D018618:Echocardiography, Doppler, Color; D017548:Echocardiography, Transesophageal; D019320:Embolism, Paradoxical / Q000209:etiology* / Q000601:surgery; D054092:Foramen Ovale, Patent / Q000150:complications* / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000601:surgery; D006801:Humans; D000860:Hypoxia / Q000209:etiology* / Q000601:surgery; D007511:Ischemia / Q000209:etiology / Q000601:surgery; D008175:Lung Neoplasms / Q000601:surgery*; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009336:Necrosis; D011013:Pneumonectomy; D011183:Postoperative Complications / Q000209:etiology* / Q000601:surgery; D011187:Posture; D012086:Reoperation; D014034:Toes / Q000098:blood supply / Q000473:pathology / Q000601:surgery; D020246:Venous Thrombosis / Q000150:complications* / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000601:surgery