Neurological sciences : official journal of the Italian Neurological Society and of the Italian Society of Clinical Neurophysiology
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The administration of analgesics to the thoracic spine is established practice in the operating room, minimizing the need for systemic anaesthetic administration during thoracic surgery. Complications arising from thoracic epidural anaesthesia are uncommon but potentially disastrous. ⋯ After a 4 months period, there was almost complete neurological recovery. Epidural haematoma is a rare complication that must be heeded and urgently treated in case of clinical deterioration after the epidural analgesia.
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Platypnea-orthodeoxia is a syndrome characterized by dyspnea and hypoxemia in orthostatism relieved by supine position. This phenomenon is frequently associated with interatrial communication, mainly patent foramen ovale. The association of platypnea-orthodeoxia syndrome with recurrent stroke and patent foramen ovale is extremely uncommon. ⋯ Percutaneous closure of patent foramen ovale led to stabilization of blood oxygen saturation and resolution of dyspnea. Platypnea-orthodeoxia syndrome should be considered in patients with stroke and unexplained dyspnea. The diagnosis could lead to correction of an unknown cardiac defect and of potential risk factor for stroke.