[Acquired right-to-left shunt with normal right heart pressure]

Rev Mal Respir. 2001 Dec;18(6 Pt 1):654-6.
[Article in French]

Abstract

Intracardiac right-to-left shunting through a patent ovale foramen (POF) despite normal right-sided pressures is an uncommon cause of dyspnea with posture worsening in adults. We report herein 6 cases which sum up etiological circumstances, diagnostic workup and management of this syndrome. The main reported etiopathologic mechanism is consistent with a change in the internal configuration of the right atria leading to preferential blood flow from inferior vena cava through patent foramen ovale. The treatment lies on surgical closure of the septal defect, which can now be performed using a noninvasive percutaneous procedure.

Publication types

  • Case Reports
  • English Abstract

MeSH terms

  • Aged
  • Female
  • Heart / physiology*
  • Heart Septal Defects, Atrial / physiopathology*
  • Humans
  • Male
  • Middle Aged
  • Pressure