The following electronic only articles are published in conjunction with this issue of Heart.

Malignant vasovagal syndrome in two patients with Wolff-Parkinson-White syndrome

N M Gandhi, D H Bennett

The presence of Wolff-Parkinson-White (WPW) syndrome in patients presenting with syncope suggests that tachyarrhythmia may be the cause. However, the symptoms require careful evaluation. Two young patients presented with syncope and were found to have WPW syndrome on their ECG. In both patients symptoms were suggestive of vasovagal syncope. During tilt testing, both the patients developed their typical symptoms with a fall in blood pressure and heart rate confirming the diagnosis of malignant vasovagal syndrome.

(Heart 2004;90:e19) www.heartjnl.com/cgi/content/full/90/4/e19

Situs inversus and acute coronary syndrome

M Saha, S Chalil, N Sulke

Dextrocardia is a rare clinical phenomenon with a reported incidence of one in 10 000. Consequently, acute coronary syndromes in such patients are rare. When chest pain occurs in this setting, it is important to be aware of the unique problems that may occur if coronary intervention is contemplated. Previous case reports have shown successful attempts at reperfusing one coronary artery percutaneously. In this case, coronary stents were successfully deployed in two vessels of a man with situs inversus, which has not been reported before. Additionally, the angiographic results that followed from successful intervention did not produce the expected haemodynamic and electrocardiographic changes.

(Heart 2004;90:e20) www.heartjnl.com/cgi/content/full/90/4/e20