Patent foramen ovale with right to left shunt as a cause of hypoxia.
Patent foramen ovale with right to left shunt as a cause of hypoxia without Eisenmengers physiology or with only moderately pulmonary artery pressures is an uncommon presentation. Initial diagnosis via transesophageal echocardiography requires detection of a shunt with either color Doppler or agitated saline contrast with or without Valsalva maneuver. This rare but diagnosable case presented was simply corrected with placement of a CardioSEAL device. Causes of right to left shunt without elevated pulmonary artery pressures are discussed.
Mareedu
Ravi K
RK
Department of General Internal Medicine, Marshfield Clinic, Marshfield, WI, USA.
Mesa
Juan E
JE
D003937:Diagnosis, Differential; D005260:Female; D054092:Foramen Ovale, Patent / Q000150:complications* / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000628:therapy; D006801:Humans; D000860:Hypoxia / Q000209:etiology*; D008875:Middle Aged; D019919:Prosthesis Implantation / Q000295:instrumentation