Enhancement of hypoxemia by right-to-left atrial shunting in severe asthma.

Robert, R; Ferrandis, J; Malin, F; Herpin, D; Pourrat, O · Intensive Care Med · 1994

case_report · Level V

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Abstract

We report two cases of severe hypoxemia due to right-to-left shunt in acute asthmatic patients. During acute asthma, the transmural right atrial pressure can be higher than left atrial pressure during inspiration and then induce a right-to-left shunt through inter-atrial communication leading to hypoxemia. Contrast echography as well as Doppler analysis can easily confirm the diagnosis.

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