Percutaneous Closure of Patent Foramen Ovale in the Setting of Pulmonary Embolism (Right-Left Shunt Causing Severe Hypoxia). Issue 5 (September 2020)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: Johnson, Joel; Kodra, Arber; Basman, Craig; Scheinerman, S. Jacob; Patel, Nirav; Kliger, Chad
• Is Part Of: Innovations. Volume 15:Issue 5(2020)
• Page Start: 478
• Page End: 480
• Publication Date: 2020-09
• Subjects: pulmonary embolism -- patent foramen ovale percutaneous closure -- right-left shunt; Cardiovascular system -- Surgery -- Periodicals; Heart -- Surgery -- Periodicals; Blood-vessels -- Surgery -- Periodicals; Chest -- Surgery -- Periodicals; Thoracic Surgical Procedures -- methods -- Periodicals; Vascular Surgical Procedures -- methods -- Periodicals; Thorax -- Chirurgie -- Méthodologie -- Périodiques; Vaisseaux sanguins -- Chirurgie -- Méthodologie -- Périodiques; Blood-vessels -- Surgery; Chest -- Surgery; Periodicals; 617.41
• DOI: 10.1177/1556984520933967
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 1556-9845

Abstract

A patent foramen ovale (PFO) is well known to cause paradoxical embolism and stroke, but a less appreciated and life-threatening complication can occur when combined with severe pulmonary embolism (PE). Acutely elevated right-sided pressures from right ventricular strain due to PE can lead to right-to-left (R-L) shunting through the PFO and exacerbate hypoxia. We report a case of a 50-year-old female patient with massive PE with further desaturation from R-L shunting from a PFO that benefitted from percutaneous closure of the interartrial communication. Our patient recovered without any complications and had excellent long-term follow-up.