Open AccessReversible platypnoea and orthodeoxia after surgical removal of an hydatid cyst from the liver
Author(s) -
Patakas D.,
Pitsiou G.,
Philippou D.,
Georgopoulos D.,
Mavrofridis E.
Publication year - 1999
Publication title -
european respiratory journal
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 4.021
H-Index - 241
eISSN - 1399-3003
pISSN - 0903-1936
DOI - 10.1034/j.1399-3003.1999.14c39.x
Subject(s) - shunting , medicine , supine position , shunt (medical) , hydatid cyst , cyst , patent foramen ovale , ventricle , right atrium , surgery , radiology , cardiology , percutaneous
A patient with a large hydatid cyst of the liver developed a positionally symptomatic right to left shunting across a patent foramen ovale with both platypnoea and orthodeoxia, despite normal pulmonary arterial pressures and normal pulmonary function tests. When the patient was in the supine position the calculated right to left shunt was 15.1% and 29.5% when seated. The shunt was attributed to the compression of the right atrium and ventricle by the cyst. Surgical evacuation of the cyst relieved the symptoms and the positionally induced shunting.