A Case of Hepatopulmonary Syndrome

Abstract

We report the case of a 52-year-old female, a known case of Chronic Liver Disease with portal hypertension. She presented with dyspnoea, platypnoea, melena, cyanosis, clubbing and orthodeoxia. She had oesophageal varices and splenomegaly indicating portal hypertension. Her arterial blood gas revealed hypoxaemia and orthodeoxia. From this clinical background and investigation, a diagnosis of hepatopulmonary syndrome was made. Patient was managed conservatively as she was not willing for liver transplantation.

Keywords

• arterial hypoxaemia
• cirrhosis
• contrast enhanced transthoracic echocardiography
• liver transplantation
• platypnoea-orthodeoxia