We refer to the case report by Soon et al titled Paradoxical Orthodeoxia in a Patient with a Large Aortic Aneurysm in Ann Acad Med Singapore 2007;36:203-5. The authors report a very interesting case. The elderly man with an aortic aneurysm displayed shunting through a patent foramen ovale in the supine position. The authors cited previous reports of orthodeoxia occurring in association with aortic aneurysms, and emphasise that in their case, instead of orthodeoxia, they demonstrated supine hypoxia. However, we wonder if the label “paradoxical orthodeoxia” coined by the authors would be confusing. Firstly, because it appears ambiguous and, secondly, because it is used to describe what is actually a usual pattern of postural hypoxia. Our comments, of course, do not detract from the important and unique findings in this case.
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