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

Right ventricular infarction complicated by right to left shunting through an atrial septal defect: successful treatment with an Amplatzer septal occluder

S Bassi, R Amersey, R Andrews

A 68 year old woman presented with right ventricular myocardial infarction complicated by refractory hypoxaemia. She was found to have a significant right to left shunt at the atrial level through a previously undiagnosed ostium secundum atrial septal defect. Percutaneous closure of the atrial septal defect with an Amplatzer septal occluder resulted in prompt improvement in her oxygenation and clinical state. Such closure should be considered for patients with right ventricular infarction and refractory hypoxaemia caused by a right to left interatrial shunt.

(Heart 2005;91:e28) www.heartjnl.com/cgi/content/full/91/4/e28

Superior vena cava syndrome caused by a pseudoaneurysm of the ascending aorta

T Vydt, J Coddens, F Wellens

Pseudoaneurysm of the ascending aorta is a well known complication after aortic root surgery. A case of a large pseudoaneurysm is reported, seen as a superior vena cava syndrome, a very rare clinical presentation. Perioperative transoesophageal echocardiography showed the presence of a large pseudoaneurysm starting from the left coronary ostium implantation.

(Heart 2005;91:e29) www.heartjnl.com/cgi/content/full/91/4/e29