Dynamic echocardiography in evaluation of platypnoea-orthodeoxia.

Platypnoea-orthodeoxia is an infrequent syndrome that is usually associated with positional intracardiac right-to-left shunting. The authors report the case of a patient who presented with deteriorating severe dyspnoea and deoxygenation in the upright position that was partially relieved by recumbent repositioning. Dynamic echocardiography provided insight into the underlying anatomical and pathophysiological mechanisms as well as guidance for definitive therapy.