Platypnea-orthodeoxia syndrome after pneumonectomy relieved by mediastinal repositioning.

Abstract

Platypnea-orthodeoxia is a rare syndrome characterized by hypoxemia in the upright position after pneumonectomy and relieved by recumbency. This syndrome is often a post-pneumonectomy complication due to intracardiac shunt, usually at the atrial level. We report a case after right pneumonectomy without interatrial shunt. The patient was successfully treated with a silicone prosthesis implant in the post-pneumonectomy space. We believe that correction of this clinical situation has not been previously described.

• Authors: Christophoros Kotoulas, Konstantinos Patris, Konstantinos Tsintiris, Antonios Zoumboulides, Kiriakos Lazarides, Georgios Laoutides
• Journal: The Annals of thoracic surgery (Ann Thorac Surg) Vol. 83 Issue 4 Pg. 1524-6 (Apr 2007) ISSN: 1552-6259 [Electronic] Netherlands
• PMID: 17383374 (Publication Type: Case Reports, Journal Article)

Chemical References

• Silicones

Topics

• Carcinoma, Squamous Cell (pathology, surgery)
• Disease Progression
• Dyspnea (diagnostic imaging, etiology, surgery)
• Echocardiography, Transesophageal
• Fatal Outcome
• Humans
• Hypoxia (diagnostic imaging, etiology, surgery)
• Lung Neoplasms (pathology, surgery)
• Male
• Mediastinum (physiology)
• Middle Aged
• Neoplasm Staging
• Pleural Cavity (surgery)
• Pneumonectomy (methods)
• Postoperative Complications (diagnosis, surgery)
• Posture
• Prostheses and Implants
• Silicones
• Syndrome
• Thoracotomy (methods)