Clinical cardiology
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Clinical cardiology · Oct 2014
ReviewCardiac platypnea-orthodeoxia syndrome: an often unrecognized malady.
Platypnea-orthodeoxia syndrome (POS) is a rare but clinically important form of dyspnea. The syndrome is characterized by dyspnea and arterial oxygen desaturation that occurs in the upright position and improves with recumbency. ⋯ Diagnosis is made through pulse oximetry to confirm orthodeoxia and through transesophageal echocardiography with bubble study to visualize the shunt. Although data are limited for this rare syndrome, percutaneous closure has thus far proven safe and effective.