THE REVERSED SHUNT FLOW THROUGH THE PATENT FORAMEN OVALE IN LEFT VENTRICULAR ASSIST CIRCULATION

EVALUATION BY TRANSESOPHAGEAL COLOR DOPPLER ECHO

Abstract

A fatal hypoxemia from left-to-right shunting owing to a patent foramen ovale (PFO) has been reported. However, detection of PFO during surgery is not always easy. We experienced one patient who developed severe perioperative hypoxemia related to PFO which was detected by postoperative transesophageal color Doppler echo (TE-2DD). Shunt flow through the PFO was fluctuated according to the grade of RV failure and ultimately became a cause of the patient's death. TE-2DD can be an effective diagnostic tool for detection and evaluation of PFO during LVAD assist.