An Underestimated Etiology of Curable Dyspnea of the Elder:Platypnea-Orthodeoxia Syndrone

摘要

An 80-year-old patient was referred to our institution for hypoxemia and a disabling shortness of breath (NYHA class IV), which worsened over several weeks. The past medical history was significant only for hypertension. The exam was not very informative. The patient denied cough, fever, or chest pain. Additionally, there was no sign of heart failure. Heart sounds and chest murmur were normal. However, the patient had a tachypnea and persisting hypoxemia.