title: A case of hepatopulmonary syndrome.
abstract: This report presents the case of a 42-year-old man with liver cirrhosis who presents with breathlessness. Initial investigations are unable to explain his persistent hypoxia and a diagnosis of hepatopulmonary syndrome is considered. Saline contrast echocardiography is utilised in confirming the diagnosis. Details of this case as well as practicalities in performing and interpreting saline contrast echocardiography are reviewed.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Key features of hepatopulmonary syndrome are liver disease, hypoxia and pulmonary vascular dilatations.Saline contrast echocardiography is a simple inexpensive procedure to perform and key to confirming the diagnosis of hepatopulmonary syndrome. Detection can be improved by performing the scan in the stand-up position.Agitated saline contrast studies are more commonly performed to identify intra-cardiac shunts. Timing of contrast arrival in the left heart chambers is key to differentiating intra-cardiac shunting from extra-cardiac pulmonary transit.
authors.affiliation: Grantham and District Hospital , Lincolnshire , UK.
authors.forename: James
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Offer
authors.affiliation: Grantham and District Hospital , Lincolnshire , UK.
authors.forename: Lawrence
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Green
authors.affiliation: Grantham and District Hospital , Lincolnshire , UK.
authors.forename: Andrew R
authors.initials: AR
authors.lastname: Houghton
authors.affiliation: Grantham and District Hospital , Lincolnshire , UK.
authors.forename: Jim
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Campbell