Phoenix, AZ
A female asked:
My oxygen saturation fluctuates when standing vs reclining following a whiplash. heart and lungs are normal. is phrenic nerve likely causing it?
1 doctor answer • 2 doctors weighed in

Dr. Bennett Werneranswered
Cardiology 45 years experience
Details?: Everyone's oxygen saturation fluctuates regardless of position. When it's being tested, you must remember to keep breathing. This may sound overly simple, but people have a normal tendency hold their breath. An easy way to screen for phrenic n damage is to do a simple chest x-ray. Radiation dose is trivial. The hemidiaphragm will be elevated on the side that has damage, if present.
785 viewsReviewed >2 years ago
Last updated Jun 9, 2017
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