Perifolliculitis mimicking basal cell carcinoma.

We present a case of a periocular painless perifolliculitis clinically mimicking basal cell carcinoma (BCC), excised by margin-controlled excision. This case reminds readers that perifolliculitis as a response to rosacea can mimic BCC. The value of diagnostic biopsy and dermoscopy to support management planning and avoid unnecessary surgery is discussed.

Is it Worthy Enough to Revascularize Chronically Occluded Coronaries?

Chronic total occlusions (CTOs) represent the "final frontier" of coronary interventions with the lowest procedural success rates and the most common reason for incomplete revascularization and referral to coronary artery bypass graft surgery (CABG). CTO lesions are not an infrequent finding during coronary angiography. They are often responsible for enhancing the complexity of the coronary disease burden thereby affecting the final interventional decision in the process. Notwithstanding the modest technical success of CTO-PCI, most of the earlier observational data demonstrated a clear survival benefit free of major cardiovascular events (MACE) in patients undergoing successful CTO revascularization. However, data from recent randomized trials fail to uphold the same survival advantage albeit, showing some trend toward improvement in left ventricular function, quality of life indicators and freedom from fatal ventricular arrythmia. Various guidance statements propose a well-defined role for CTO intervention in specific situations provided criterions for patient selection, appreciable inducible ischemia, myocardial viability and cost-risk-benefit analysis are met.

Exploring the association of fibrinogen and CRP with the clinical spectrum of CAD and periprocedural outcomes in patients undergoing percutaneous coronary interventions.

BACKGROUND: The pathophysiology of an atherosclerotic plaque is mediated by the mechanisms involving thrombus formation and systemic inflammation. While C-reactive protein (CRP) levels are useful in predicting a cardiovascular event in intermediate risk population, the usefulness of routinely measuring fibrinogen in patients with acute coronary syndrome (ACS) is debatable. Also, data on the association of these markers with periprocedural outcomes in patients undergoing percutaneous coronary interventions (PCI) is scarce. AIMS: The study aimed to determine whether the levels of fibrinogen and CRP vary across the different spectra of CAD and whether they have any correlation with cardiac Troponin I levels. MATERIALS AND METHODS: A total of 284 patients with coronary artery disease undergoing percutaneous coronary intervention were included in the study. Complete blood count, serum lipid profile, serum CRP, fibrinogen, and troponin I were measured for all patients. RESULTS: Patients with STEMI had significantly higher levels of CRP as compared to those with unstable angina (USA) and chronic stable angina (CSA). Patients presenting with ACS had significantly higher baseline fibrinogen as compared to those with CSA. A significant positive correlation between CRP and admission Troponin I (r = 0.50; P < 0.05) as well as fibrinogen and admission troponin I (r = 0.30; P < 0.05) was observed. The CRP levels were significantly higher in 15 patients with periprocedural MI as compared to those who did not develop periprocedural MI. CONCLUSIONS: : The levels of the markers of inflammation and atherothrombosis vary with presentation across varied spectra of CAD with generally higher levels in acute presentation and in those who develop periprocedural MI.

Simultaneous radio-ulnar cannulation: shifting gears from 'feasibility' to 'applicability'.

Conventionally, routes of vascular access commonly include femoral and radial arteries with brachial, ulnar and subclavian arteries being rarely used for coronary interventions. Non-femoral arterial access is being increasingly preferred to minimise groin puncture site complications, prolonged immobilization and duration of hospital stay. However, radial artery cannulation is also fraught with fears of tortuosity, loops, vascular spasm, perforation, pseudoaneurysm formation, arm hematoma and arterial occlusion. In contemporary practice when most of the coronary procedures are being done via transradial access, encountering one of the above-mentioned hurdles often forces the operator to switchover to femoral access. Here, we explore the rationale, feasibility, operational logistics, clinical implications and future directions for using simultaneous radio-ulnar arterial access in the same extremity.

Sternal osteomyelitis by Gordonia Bronchialis in an immunocompetent patient after open heart surgery.

Gordonia is a catalase-positive, aerobic, nocardioform, Gram-positive staining actinomycete that also shows weak acid-fast staining. Several Gordonia species are commonly found in the soil. The bacterium has been isolated from the saliva of domesticated/wild dogs as well. In hospitalized patients, most commonly it is found in the setting of intravascular catheter-related infections. However, recent reports show that it is being increasingly isolated from sternal wounds, skin/neoplastic specimens and from pleural effusions. Gordonia shares many common characteristics with Rhodococcus and Nocardia. Ergo, it is commonly misrecognized as Nocardia or Rhodococcus. Since this pathogen requires comprehensive morphological and biochemical testing, it is often difficult and cumbersome to isolate the species. Broad-range Polymerase Chain Reaction (PCR) and sequencing with genes like 16S rRNA or hsp65 are used to correctly identify the species. Identification is essential for choosing and narrowing the right antimicrobial agent. Herein, we report our experience with a patient who presented with sternal osteomyelitis after infection with this elusive bug.

Gerbode defect formation two decades after tetrology of fallot repair.

Although most intracardiac defects are congenital, a small fraction may be acquired during life. The Gerbode defect is an abnormal anatomical connection between the left ventricle and the right atrium. We describe herein a patient who initially underwent repair of tetralogy of Fallot (TOF). Years after TOF repair, he developed severe dyspnea. Extensive evaluation revealed that he had developed a Gerbode defect. Very few cases of acquired Gerbode defect have been previously reported. Management options are predominantly surgical interventions.

Role of metabolic manipulator trimetazidine in limiting percutaneous coronary intervention-induced myocardial injury.

BACKGROUND: Trimetazidine (TMZ) is a metabolic modulator that shifts substrate utilization from fatty acid to carbohydrates, thereby, increasing myocardial glucose oxidation and improving myocardial ischemia. We evaluated whether TMZ is effective in reducing myocardial injury after percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI). METHODS: Patients with stable angina undergoing elective PCI were divided into two groups, one who received oral TMZ (35 mg BD) started 7 days before PCI (n = 48) and second who did not receive any TMZ (in addition to the standard therapy (n = 52)). Troponin-I (cTnI) and creatine kinase-MB (CK-MB) were measured before, 8, and 24 h after PCI. The primary end point was a difference in post-PCI cTnI and CK-MB levels (vs baseline). Frequency of cTnI release in the two groups, total amount of cTnI release, and difference in TIMI flow grade before and after the procedure were also assessed. RESULTS: Baseline demographics in the groups were comparable. Despite similar baseline levels, post-procedural cTnI was lower at 8 h (0.13 vs 0.56 ng/ml, p = 0.03) and 24 h (0.2 vs 1.13 ng/ml, p = 0.004) in the TMZ group. Decline or no change in cTnI was significantly more common in the TMZ group (26% vs 2%, p < 0.01). Total cTnI released after PCI, as assessed by area under curve was significantly lower in the TMZ group (15.84 vs 3.32 ng h/ml, p = 0.005). Although CK-MB levels were also lower in the TMZ group, the difference was not statistically significant. Incidence of post-PCI TIMI 1 or 2 flow was significantly lesser in the TMZ group. CONCLUSIONS: Oral TMZ started 7 days before PCI was effective in limiting PCI-induced myocardial injury with lower cTnI levels and higher prevalence of TIMI-3 flow.