Transradial Versus Transfemoral Access for Percutaneous Coronary Intervention of Unprotected Left Main Coronary Artery Stenosis: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis.

INTRODUCTION: PCI of ULMS is frequently performed through TFA because of technical complexity and safety concern. Studies have shown comparable efficacy and safety of TRA versus TFA, however, these studies are few in number. We intended to compare the clinical outcomes between transradial access (TRA) and transfemoral access (TFA) in patients undergoing percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI) for unprotected left main coronary artery stenosis (ULMS) by performing a meta-analysis. METHOD: A systematic search of database, including, PubMed, Web of Science, Google scholar and Cochrane Database were performed by two independent reviewers. Studies were included comparing "TRA" versus "TFA" in patients undergoing PCI in ULMS. The primary outcome was a procedural success rate. Secondary outcomes were major bleeding, access site complications, in-hospital and long term: major adverse cardiac events (MACE), myocardial infarction (MI) and cardiovascular mortality. RESULTS: Eight studies were included in the analysis. The procedural success rate was 97.3% and there was no statistically significant difference between TRA and TFA groups (OR, 1.41 [CI 0.64, 3.12], I2 = 26%). The rates of access site complications (OR, 0.17 [CI 0.07, 0.41], I2 = 16%), major bleeding (OR, 0.39 [CI 0.17, 0.86], I2 = 0%) and all-cause mortality (OR, 0.28 [CI 0.12, 0.64], I2 = 0%) were lower in the TRA group. There were no significant differences in in-hospital and long term cardiovascular mortality, MI and MACE between the two groups. CONCLUSION: In contrast to TFA, TRA is associated with reduced bleeding and access site complications, with similar procedural success rate in patients undergoing PCI of ULMS.

Rare association of Visceral leishmaniasis with Hodgkin's disease: A case report.

We present here a case of young male with complaints of fever and swelling in the neck for eight months. History of progressive weakness associated with weight loss was present. Physical examination revealed pallor, multiple enlarged cervical lymph nodes and hepatosplenomegaly. Investigations showed pancytopenia, hyperglobinemia and Leishman-Donovan bodies on bone marrow aspiration. Serological test confirmed diagnosis of visceral leishmaniasis. However, cervical lymph node aspiration and biopsy were suggestive of Mixed cellularity Hodgkin's disease. This made it a very rare case of Leishmaniasis as an opportunistic infection in a patient of pre-chemotherapy Hodgkin's disease. There was marked improvement in haematological profile and regression of hepatosplenomegaly with Amphotericin B treatment followed by favourable response to chemotherapy. The case emphasizes the suspicion for leishmaniasis as a masquerader and as an opportunistic infection in haematological malignancies.

A rare case of non-insulinoma pancreatic hypoglycaemia syndrome (niphs) in an adult due to localised islet cell hyperplasia-successfully managed by enucleation.

Persistent hyperinsulinemic hypoglycaemia is caused most commonly by an insulinoma in adults or by nesidioblastosis in neonates. In adults, localised islet cell hyperplasia is a rare disorder characterised by localised proliferation of islet cells. The authors present the case of a previously healthy non-obese middle aged female with new-onset severe hypoglycaemia. Laboratory findings confirmed a case of hyperinsulinemic hypoglycaemia. Endoscopic ultrasonography, intra-arterial calcium stimulation test and intraoperative ultrasonography showed a lesion in the uncinate process that was enucleated. Rest of the pancreas was normal. Histological examination and immunostaining of the resected tissue revealed pancreatic tissue with maintained acinar pattern consistent with diagnosis of localised islet cell hyperplasia. The patient did not have further episodes of hypoglycaemia following the procedure. Localised islet cell hyperplasia with such a very high insulin level is exceedingly rare in adult populations and not reported in literature. This diagnosis cannot be easily made through routine diagnostic laboratory or radiological procedures and likely requires a histological diagnosis. Management of this rare entity is by enucleation.