title: [Platypnea-orthodeoxia syndrome].
abstract: An 82-year-old woman presented with dyspnoea and palpitations. The patient was admitted to the cardiology ward on suspicion of atrial fibrillation and reduced cardiac output. Examination revealed position-dependent deoxygenation. Once acute cardiac or pulmonary pathologies were excluded a diagnosis of platypnea-orthodeoxia was considered. Diagnosis was confirmed by transoesophageal contrast echocardiography, which showed a patent foramen ovale. Curative treatment consisted of percutaneous closure of the foramen ovale. A persistent asymptomatic foramen ovale is common and can be revealed in later life. Platypnea-orthodeoxia syndrome is a relatively unfamiliar disorder.
authors.affiliation: Universitair Medisch Centrum Groningen, afd. Cardiologie, Groningen, the Netherlands.
authors.forename: Jan Willem
authors.initials: JW
authors.lastname: Buikema
authors.forename: Peter Paul
authors.initials: PP
authors.lastname: van Geel
mesh_terms: D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D001145:Arrhythmias, Cardiac / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000209:etiology; D003937:Diagnosis, Differential; D004417:Dyspnea / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000209:etiology; D004452:Echocardiography; D017548:Echocardiography, Transesophageal; D005260:Female; D054092:Foramen Ovale, Patent / Q000150:complications* / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000601:surgery; D006801:Humans; D000860:Hypoxia / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000209:etiology; D011187:Posture; D013577:Syndrome