Orthodeoxia--an uncommon presentation following bilateral thoracic sympathectomy

P V van Heerden; P D Cameron; A Karanovic; M A Goodman

doi:10.1177/0310057X0303100516

Orthodeoxia--an uncommon presentation following bilateral thoracic sympathectomy

Anaesth Intensive Care. 2003 Oct;31(5):581-3. doi: 10.1177/0310057X0303100516.

Authors

P V van Heerden¹, P D Cameron, A Karanovic, M A Goodman

Affiliation

¹ Departments of Intensive Care and Vascular Surgery, Sir Charles Gairdner Hospital, Pharmacology Unit, School of Medicine and Pharmacology, University of Western Australia, Perth, Western Australia.

PMID: 14601286
DOI: 10.1177/0310057X0303100516

Abstract

We present a case of orthodeoxia (postural hypoxaemia) which resulted from a combination of lung collapse/consolidation and blunted hypoxic pulmonary vasoconstriction due to partial interruption of the sympathetic nerve supply to the lung by bilateral thoracic sympathectomy.

Publication types

Case Reports

MeSH terms

Adolescent
Almitrine / therapeutic use
Female
Humans
Hyperhidrosis / surgery
Hypoxia / diagnosis
Hypoxia / drug therapy
Hypoxia / etiology*
Norepinephrine / therapeutic use
Postoperative Complications / etiology*
Posture / physiology*
Respiratory System Agents / therapeutic use
Sympathectomy / adverse effects*
Sympathectomy / methods
Thoracic Nerves / surgery*
Vasoconstrictor Agents / therapeutic use

Substances

Respiratory System Agents
Vasoconstrictor Agents
Almitrine
Norepinephrine