ABSTRACT
Background : Although cardiothoracic surgery has made significant progress in Nigeria; more has to be done in the field of open heart surgery to mitigate the currently experienced need for surgery abroad. This communication highlights the common indications for major cardiothoracic surgeries performed over a 2-year period from November 2011 to October 2013 in Aminu Kano Teaching Hospital; Kano. Highlighted are common cardiothoracic problems often encountered in this region and their outcome. This will therefore form the basis for comparison with what is obtainable in other cardiothoracic centers in the country.Objectives: To determine the common indications for major cardiothoracic surgeries and their outcome over a 2-year period in the Aminu Kano Teaching Hospital; Kano.Methodology: Data were retrieved from the operation theater register of our institution and relevant information such as age; sex; indication for surgery; surgical procedure performed and outcome were extracted.Results : A total of 89 major surgeries were performed during the study period. The subjects comprised of 66 males and 23 females; with a male to female ratio of 3:1. Trauma-related chest injuries constituted the major indication (21.4); with nine cases being arrow-related chest injury; which was the most common. A single case of pericardectomy was performed. All surgeries were carried out successfully and patients were discharged except for one mortality recorded following intervention of a case of arrow-related chest injury (5.3).Conclusion : Trauma-related events were the most common indication for major cardiothoracic surgery in our series. Arrow-related injuries were the most common; and these were seen mostly in males