Respiratory Failure, Previous Stroke and Pulmonary Embolism: Mind the Platypnea-Orthodeoxia Syndrome: A Literature Review

Tirotta D1*, Lena C1-3, Del Prete A1-3, Gardelli L1, Tassinari M1, Compagnone M2, Galvani M2 and Muratori P1-3

1Internal Medicine Unit, Morgagni Pierantoni Hospital, Ausl Romagna, Italy 2Cardiology Unit, Morgagni Pierantoni Hospital, Ausl Romagna, Italy
3Internal Medicine, S Orsola Bologna University, Italy

^*Correspondance to: Tirotta D 

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Abstract:

Platypnea-Orthodeoxia Syndrome (POS) is an unusual presentation of several pathologies. The exact prevalence of this syndrome remains, however, unknown. Despite this, many diseases are associated with POS, which is increasingly identified by clinicians. The pathophysiological mechanism associated with this syndrome is not yet fully understood, but probably results from one of the following: Intracardiac shunt, pulmonary shunt, ventilation-perfusion mismatch or a combination of these three mechanisms. Although the underlying disease of POS may be present from the birth, symptoms may appear only later in life due to an acute superimposed illness. It is necessary to mind the POS in the presence of an unexplained dyspnea or a dyspnea associated with cardioembolic manifestations and/or venous embolism in anamnesis. The presence of both arterial and venous Thrombophilic diathesis makes the differential diagnosis with an antiphospholipid syndrome, while the association of stroke and dyspnea, with aspiration pneumonia. We introduce a case of POS with a past pathological history of embolic stroke and pulmonary embolism and we carry out a sensible literature review of POS cases associated to this presentation.

Keywords:

Platypnea-orthodeoxia syndrome; Thrombophilic diathesis; Embolic stroke

Cite the Article:

Tirotta D, Lena C, Del Prete A, Gardelli L, Tassinari M, Compagnone M, et al. Respiratory Failure, Previous Stroke and Pulmonary Embolism: Mind the Platypnea-Orthodeoxia Syndrome: A Literature Review. Ann Clin Case Rep. 2023; 8: 2447. ISSN: 2474-1655..