Hypovolemia Resulting in Platypnea-Orthodeoxia Syndrome.
BACKGROUND
Platypnea-orthodeoxia syndrome is a rare disease entity that is characterized by dyspnea and desaturation in the upright position that resolves when the patient is in the supine position.


METHODS
An 80-year-old man presented with epistaxis but was noted to be hypoxic and was unresponsive to supplemental oxygenation. His oxygen saturation improved with supine positioning, however, which is consistent with platypnea-orthodeoxia syndrome. This improved with overnight intravenous hydration. WHY SHOULD AN EMERGENCY PHYSICIAN BE AWARE OF THIS?: In patients with hypoxia and paradoxical improvement in oxygen saturation with supine positioning, consider platypnea-orthodeoxia as a potential cause.
Department of Emergency Medicine, University of Nebraska Medical Center, Omaha, Nebraska.
Stephen
S
Ducey
Department of Emergency Medicine, University of Nebraska Medical Center, Omaha, Nebraska.
Jeffrey
J
Cooper
D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D004417:Dyspnea / Q000209:etiology* / Q000503:physiopathology; D006801:Humans; D020896:Hypovolemia / Q000150:complications*; D000860:Hypoxia / Q000209:etiology* / Q000503:physiopathology; D008297:Male; D011187:Posture / Q000502:physiology; D016683:Supine Position; D013577:Syndrome
hypovolemia; hypoxia; platypnea-orthodeoxia; platypnea-orthodeoxia syndrome