title: Platypnea-orthodeoxia: bilateral lower-lobe pulmonary emboli and review of associated pathophysiology and management.
abstract: Platypnea-orthodeoxia is a rare syndrome characterized by dyspnea and arterial deoxygenation, which is exacerbated in an upright position and relieved with recumbency. We report a case of platypnea-orthodeoxia in a 56-year-old male who was found to have bilateral lower-lobe pulmonary emboli. He did not have any evidence of an intracardiac shunt. A comprehensive review of the pathophysiology and management of platypnea-orthodeoxia is provided.
authors.affiliation: Department of Internal Medicine, Duke University Medical Center, Durham, NC, USA. brunnem@ccf.org
authors.forename: Michael
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Brunner
authors.forename: Victor
authors.initials: V
authors.lastname: Tapson
mesh_terms: D004417:Dyspnea / Q000209:etiology*; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D011187:Posture; D011655:Pulmonary Embolism / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000503:physiopathology* / Q000628:therapy*