Platypnea‐Orthodeoxia Syndrome Post‐Pneumonectomy: A Case of Right‐To‐Left Shunting and Successful PFO Closure

ABSTRACT Platypnea‐orthodeoxia syndrome is a rare disorder characterized by dyspnea (platypnea) and arterial desaturation (orthodeoxia) in the upright position, with symptom relief upon lying down. This syndrome is commonly associated with cardiac anomalies, particularly patent foramen ovale (PFO),...

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Main Authors: Cristian Castillo‐Rodriguez, Dina Soliman, Michel Juarez, Sherif Roman, John Abdelmalek, Zhaunn Sly, Ankush Lahoti, Victor Test
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: Wiley 2025-08-01
Series:Clinical Case Reports
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Online Access:https://doi.org/10.1002/ccr3.70715
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author Cristian Castillo‐Rodriguez
Dina Soliman
Michel Juarez
Sherif Roman
John Abdelmalek
Zhaunn Sly
Ankush Lahoti
Victor Test
author_facet Cristian Castillo‐Rodriguez
Dina Soliman
Michel Juarez
Sherif Roman
John Abdelmalek
Zhaunn Sly
Ankush Lahoti
Victor Test
author_sort Cristian Castillo‐Rodriguez
collection DOAJ
description ABSTRACT Platypnea‐orthodeoxia syndrome is a rare disorder characterized by dyspnea (platypnea) and arterial desaturation (orthodeoxia) in the upright position, with symptom relief upon lying down. This syndrome is commonly associated with cardiac anomalies, particularly patent foramen ovale (PFO), where increased right atrial pressure facilitates right‐to‐left shunting, leading to hypoxemia. Other associated conditions include cirrhosis, pericardial effusion, and pneumonectomy. We present a 32‐year‐old female with a history of right pneumonectomy for invasive aspergillosis who presented with worsening dyspnea and a greater than 10% drop in SpO2 when seated compared to the supine position. Initial imaging demonstrated rightward displacement of thoracic structures, including the right atrium, but a transthoracic echocardiogram was negative for intracardiac shunt. Due to persistent hypoxemia, a transesophageal echocardiogram was performed, revealing a right‐to‐left shunt, an atrial septal aneurysm, and a prominent Eustachian valve. The patient underwent successful PFO closure, leading to the complete resolution of both dyspnea and hypoxemia. This case emphasizes the importance of comprehensive diagnostic evaluation in patients with POS, especially those with complex cardiopulmonary histories.
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spelling doaj-art-dea40053a2e247939bd896d92b2f94c62025-08-22T07:33:07ZengWileyClinical Case Reports2050-09042025-08-01138n/an/a10.1002/ccr3.70715Platypnea‐Orthodeoxia Syndrome Post‐Pneumonectomy: A Case of Right‐To‐Left Shunting and Successful PFO ClosureCristian Castillo‐Rodriguez0Dina Soliman1Michel Juarez2Sherif Roman3John Abdelmalek4Zhaunn Sly5Ankush Lahoti6Victor Test7Department of Internal Medicine Texas Tech University Health Sciences Center Lubbock Texas USADepartment of Internal Medicine Texas Tech University Health Sciences Center Lubbock Texas USADepartment of Internal Medicine Texas Tech University Health Sciences Center Lubbock Texas USADivision of Cardiology Texas Tech University Health Sciences Center Lubbock Texas USADivision of Cardiology Texas Tech University Health Sciences Center Lubbock Texas USADivision of Cardiology Texas Tech University Health Sciences Center Lubbock Texas USADivision of Cardiology Texas Tech University Health Sciences Center Lubbock Texas USADivision of Pulmonary and Critical Care Texas Tech University Health Sciences Center Lubbock Texas USAABSTRACT Platypnea‐orthodeoxia syndrome is a rare disorder characterized by dyspnea (platypnea) and arterial desaturation (orthodeoxia) in the upright position, with symptom relief upon lying down. This syndrome is commonly associated with cardiac anomalies, particularly patent foramen ovale (PFO), where increased right atrial pressure facilitates right‐to‐left shunting, leading to hypoxemia. Other associated conditions include cirrhosis, pericardial effusion, and pneumonectomy. We present a 32‐year‐old female with a history of right pneumonectomy for invasive aspergillosis who presented with worsening dyspnea and a greater than 10% drop in SpO2 when seated compared to the supine position. Initial imaging demonstrated rightward displacement of thoracic structures, including the right atrium, but a transthoracic echocardiogram was negative for intracardiac shunt. Due to persistent hypoxemia, a transesophageal echocardiogram was performed, revealing a right‐to‐left shunt, an atrial septal aneurysm, and a prominent Eustachian valve. The patient underwent successful PFO closure, leading to the complete resolution of both dyspnea and hypoxemia. This case emphasizes the importance of comprehensive diagnostic evaluation in patients with POS, especially those with complex cardiopulmonary histories.https://doi.org/10.1002/ccr3.70715atrial septal defectorthodeoxiapatent foramen ovaleplatypnea
spellingShingle Cristian Castillo‐Rodriguez
Dina Soliman
Michel Juarez
Sherif Roman
John Abdelmalek
Zhaunn Sly
Ankush Lahoti
Victor Test
Platypnea‐Orthodeoxia Syndrome Post‐Pneumonectomy: A Case of Right‐To‐Left Shunting and Successful PFO Closure
Clinical Case Reports
atrial septal defect
orthodeoxia
patent foramen ovale
platypnea
title Platypnea‐Orthodeoxia Syndrome Post‐Pneumonectomy: A Case of Right‐To‐Left Shunting and Successful PFO Closure
title_full Platypnea‐Orthodeoxia Syndrome Post‐Pneumonectomy: A Case of Right‐To‐Left Shunting and Successful PFO Closure
title_fullStr Platypnea‐Orthodeoxia Syndrome Post‐Pneumonectomy: A Case of Right‐To‐Left Shunting and Successful PFO Closure
title_full_unstemmed Platypnea‐Orthodeoxia Syndrome Post‐Pneumonectomy: A Case of Right‐To‐Left Shunting and Successful PFO Closure
title_short Platypnea‐Orthodeoxia Syndrome Post‐Pneumonectomy: A Case of Right‐To‐Left Shunting and Successful PFO Closure
title_sort platypnea orthodeoxia syndrome post pneumonectomy a case of right to left shunting and successful pfo closure
topic atrial septal defect
orthodeoxia
patent foramen ovale
platypnea
url https://doi.org/10.1002/ccr3.70715
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