Shepherd's Crook Curve: A Novel Technique for Angulated Side Branch Access in Bifurcation Angioplasty.

Coronary intervention involving the region of bifurcation remains a challenging issue for the cardiologist as well as a complication. A number of factors including the angulation of side branch with the main branch determines the success. Though provisional strategy remains the best option in bifurcation intervention, at times a two-stent strategy cannot be avoided. We report a case in which percutaneous coronary intervention was performed on the left anterior descending artery (LAD) at its bifurcation with a major diagonal branch (> 2.5 mm). The ostium of the diagonal was diseased, and the branch took off from the LAD at an unfavorable angle (> 120°). We describe the use of the "shepherd's crook wire curve" approach, a modification of the reverse wire technique, which allowed us to successfully wire, dilate, and protect the diagonal and so named to reflect its resemblance to the shape of a shepherd's crook.

Effectiveness of ultrasonography-guided cardiac sympathetic denervation in acute control of electrical storm: A retrospective case series.

Background and Aims: Ultrasonography-guided left cardiac sympathetic denervation (LCSD) or bilateral cardiac sympathetic denervation (BCSD) may be a useful intervention in the electrical storm (ES) that persists despite pharmacological therapy. The aim of our study was to evaluate the effectiveness of ultrasonography-guided LCSD or BCSD in the acute control of ES. We conducted a retrospective case series of patients who underwent ultrasonography-guided CSD for control of ES at a tertiary care hospital. Material and Methods: Data of all patients who underwent unilateral or bilateral CSD were collected from January 2017 to December 2019. Eleven patients with ES refractory to standard antiarrhythmic therapy underwent ultrasonography-guided pharmacological CSD (eight underwent LCSD and three underwent BCSD). Quantitative data was expressed as mean and median with interquartile range (IQR). Non-quantitative data was expressed in proportions. Results: Eleven patients underwent ultrasonography-guided pharmacological CSD (eight underwent LCSD and three underwent BCSD). Six of the eleven patients were female (54.5%). Ischemia was the underlying substrate in nine patients (81.8%). Five patients (46%) had complete resolution of ventricular tachycardia (VT) after CSD and one had 90% reduction in episodes of VT. The median follow-up duration was 8 months inter-quartile range IQR (7-18). One patient succumbed to heart failure and one patient was lost to follow up. The other patients had no further events and were well at last follow up. Conclusion: Ultrasonography-guided pharmacological CSD is effective in the acute control of ES. It is easily performed with equipment that is readily available and relatively safe in terms of immediate complications and is an ideal second-line intervention when ES persists despite drug therapy.

Masquerading Bundle Branch Block: A Poor Prognostic Sign Revisited.

Masquerading bundle branch block is a rare but important finding on the Electrocardiogram (ECG). It is an indication of severe and diffuse conduction system disease and usually indicates poor prognosis. The precordial leads show a Right Bundle Branch Block (RBBB) pattern while the limb leads resemble a Left Bundle Branch Block (LBBB). This finding on an ECG is almost invariably associated with severe underlying heart disease. It is extremely important to be aware of this finding as it is a marker of poor cardiac outcomes. We report the case of a 68-year-old gentleman, who presented with progressive dyspnoea on exertion over three months. ECG showed a broad QRS complex with a RBBB pattern on the precordial leads and a LBBB pattern on the limb leads (suggestive of masquerading bundle branch block). A coronary angiogram revealed severe Triple Vessel Disease (TVD). The patient was scheduled for an early Coronary Artery By-Pass Grafting Surgery. However, his clinical condition deteriorated and he died while awaiting the surgery.