This novel infusion catheter used in combination with a pressure/temperature sensor-tipped guidewire allows accurate and repeatable absolute coronary flow measurements. This opens a window to a better understanding of the coronary microcirculation.

BackgroundRecent evidence questions the role of intra-aortic balloon counterpulsation (IABP) in the treatment of acute myocardial infarction (AMI) complicated by cardiogenic shock (CS). An area of increasing interest is the use of IABP for persistent ischaemia (PI). We analysed the use of IABP in patients with AMI complicated by CS or PI.MethodsFrom 2008 to 2010, a total of 4076 patients were admitted to our hospital for primary percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI) for AMI. Out of those, 239 patients received an IABP either because of CS or because of PI. Characteristics and outcome of those patients are investigated.ResultsThe mean age of the study population was 64 ± 11 years; 75 % were male patients. Of the patients, 63 % had CS and 37 % had PI. Patients with CS had a 30-day mortality rate of 36 %; 1-year mortality was 41 %. Patients with PI had a 30-day mortality rate of 7 %; 1-year mortality was 11 %.ConclusionsMortality in patients admitted for primary PCI because of AMI complicated by CS is high despite IABP use. Outcome in patients treated with IABP for PI is favourable and mandates further prospective studies.

AimsPercutaneous coronary intervention (PCI) of bifurcation lesions can be performed using various techniques. The aim of this study was to analyse the outcome of various techniques of bifurcation stenting in all patients undergoing bifurcation stenting at one large intervention centre in 2013, taking into account that more complex lesions might more often warrant a two-stent technique.Methods and resultsThis retrospective study included 260 consecutive patients who underwent non-primary PCI of a bifurcation lesion at the Catharina Hospital, Eindhoven, in 2013. Patients were classified into two groups: one-stent technique (provisional stenting), and two-stent techniques (culotte, crush and T‑stenting). The primary endpoint was the rate of restenosis at 1 year. The secondary endpoints were procedural complications (side branch occlusion, periprocedural infarction, and death) and major adverse cardiac events (MACE) at 1 year. Periprocedural complications occurred in 15 patients (5.8 %) with no difference between the groups (p = 0.27). After 1 year, restenosis occurred in 3.2 % of the patients in the one-stent technique group and 7.3 % in the two-stent technique group (p = 0.20). MACE at 1 year did not differ between the groups at 11.9 % and 12.2 % respectively (p = 1.00).ConclusionsThis study shows that there is no significant difference between restenosis rate, or any other outcome parameter, with the different techniques of bifurcation stenting. Since provisional stenting is the simplest, most straightforward and cheapest approach, if technically feasible this technique has our preference as the initial approach, and an upgrade can be considered if the result is insufficient.

the patient was admitted to the cardiac care unit. Flecainide and nortriptyline were stopped at admission. Over the next hours, the AV block disappeared and the following subsequent electrocardiograms were recorded (Figs. 2 and 3).What is your diagnosis and can you explain the underlying mechanism?Open Access This article is distributed under the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution License which permits any use, distribution, and reproduction in any medium, provided the original author(s) and the source are credited. QuestionA 79-year-old woman was admitted to the emergency department because of respiratory tract infection and several near-syncopes due to intermittent third-degree AV block (Fig. 1). She had a medical history of known paroxysmal atrial fibrillation without left ventricular dysfunction, and chronic mental depression treated by oral flecainide and nortriptyline, respectively.An underlying respiratory tract infection (C-reactive protein 150 mg/l) with a right lower lobe infiltrate was discovered on X-ray. A temporary pacemaker lead was placed and L.X. van Nunen () · S.A