Volume 106, Issue 1 pp. 698-701
CASE REPORT

Platypnea-Orthodeoxia Syndrome (POS): A Retrospective Study of Percutaneous Closure of the Foramen Ovale in a Single Center

Alejandro Rasines-Rodríguez

Corresponding Author

Alejandro Rasines-Rodríguez

Pediatric Cardiology Unit, Department of Pediatrics, Complejo Hospitalario Universitario A Coruña, A Coruña, Spain

Correspondence: Alejandro Rasines-Rodríguez ([email protected])

Search for more papers by this author
Alexis Otero González

Alexis Otero González

Department of Pediatrics, Complejo Hospitalario Universitario A Coruña, A Coruña, Spain

Search for more papers by this author
Jorge Salgado Fernández

Jorge Salgado Fernández

Hemodynamics Unit, Department of Cardiology, Complejo Hospitalario Universitario A Coruña, A Coruña, Spain

Search for more papers by this author
Fernando Rueda Núñez

Fernando Rueda Núñez

Pediatric Cardiology Unit, Department of Pediatrics, Complejo Hospitalario Universitario A Coruña, A Coruña, Spain

Search for more papers by this author
First published: 20 May 2025

ABSTRACT

Platypnea-Orthodeoxia Syndrome (POS) is an uncommon but underdiagnosed condition characterized by dyspnea and oxygen desaturation in the upright position, which resolves in the supine position. The most common cause is a right-to-left intracardiac shunt at the foramen ovale (FO). This study reviews the outcomes of 11 patients who underwent percutaneous FO closure for POS at our center between 2007 and 2023. The cohort consisted of six women and five men, with a median age of 77 years. All patients had cardiovascular risk factors, particularly hypertension. Pre-procedure oxygen saturation was low (median 83%), but all patients showed immediate improvement after FO closure, with a median post-procedure saturation of 97%. The median length of stay before the procedure was 40 days, reflecting the diagnostic delay typical of this syndrome. Postprocedure, the median length of stay was 8 days. No complications were recorded. The study also explores the pathophysiology of POS, identifying potential risk factors such as structural changes in the heart and thoraco-abdominal surgeries that may contribute to the development of this syndrome. These findings confirm that percutaneous FO closure is a safe and effective treatment for POS, offering rapid improvement in oxygen saturation and emphasizing the importance of early diagnosis.

Conflicts of Interest

The authors declare no conflicts of interest.

The full text of this article hosted at iucr.org is unavailable due to technical difficulties.