Vol. 1 No. 1 (2026): Hypoxemia Due to Right-to-Left Shunting Through a Patent Foramen Ovale in a Postoperative ICU Patient: A Case Report

Abstract:
Background: Hypoxemia in postoperative Intensive Care Unit (ICU) patients is often multifactorial, with common causes including atelectasis, pneumonia, or pulmonary embolism. However, right-to-left shunting through a Patent Foramen Ovale (PFO) is a rare but critical differential diagnosis in unexplained hypoxemia..