Nitric oxide therapy for post-laparoscopic surgery associated patent foramen ovale: incidence, mechanisms, diagnosis and therapy.

Abstract

OBJECTIVE:

Postoperative hypoxemia is a common clinical challenge. The diagnosis of an underlying cause of hypoxemia may not immediately be apparent. Clinically silent and non-functional intracardiac shunt may become apparent and pose significant management problems in the postoperative period.

DATA SOURCE:

We describe a case where clinically significant hypoxemia resulted from a patent foramen ovale (PFO) after laparoscopic surgery due to changes in the intra-abdominal and intrathoracic pressures.

CONCLUSION:

This condition was effectively diagnosed by bedside echocardiography, and was effectively treated with nitric oxide.

• Authors: Richard A Helmers, Krishnaswamy Chandrasekaran
• Journal: Heart & lung : the journal of critical care (Heart Lung) 2014 Mar-Apr Vol. 43 Issue 2 Pg. 155-7 ISSN: 1527-3288 [Electronic] United States
• PMID: 24462121 (Publication Type: Case Reports, Journal Article)
• Copyright: Copyright © 2014 Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.

Chemical References

• Nitric Oxide

Topics

• Administration, Inhalation
• Echocardiography, Transesophageal
• Foramen Ovale, Patent (complications, diagnostic imaging)
• Fundoplication
• Humans
• Hypoxia (etiology)
• Laparoscopy
• Male
• Middle Aged
• Nitric Oxide (therapeutic use)
• Postoperative Complications