Gestion de la qualité des soins au service d'acceuil des urgences (SAU) de l'hôpital du Mali: enjeux et perspectives / Management of the quality of care at the emergency reception service (SAU) of the hospital of Mali : challenges et perspectives

Introduction : La Neurochirurgie au Mali reste une discipline relativement jeune par rapport aux autres spécialités chirurgicales. Le but de ce travail est de décrire le parcours des urgences neurochirurgicales admises au SAU de l'hôpital du Mali.Patient et méthodes : C'est une étude prospective transversale analytique qui s'est déroulée au SAU de l'hôpital du Mali sur une durée de 02 mois. Sont inclus dans cette étude, tous les patients admis au SAU et dont on a eu recours à un avis neurochirurgical. Nous avons recensé et analysé les données épidémiologiques, cliniques, paracliniques et thérapeutiques chez 82 patients. Résultats : Sur un total de 152 patients admis au SAU, il y'avait 82 cas pour lesquels un avis neurochirurgical a été demandé soit 53, 95 % des admissions. Parmi ces 82 patients, il y avait 50 cas de traumatismes crâniens, 20 cas de traumatismes du rachis, 08 cas d'accident vasculaire cérébral hémorragique (AVCH), 03 cas de suppurations intracrâniennes et 01 cas de tumeur cérébrale. Nous avons opéré 41 patients (50%) et mis en observation 32 patients (39,02%). Malgré nos efforts, 09 patients sont sortis contre avis médical ou par faute de moyens. Nous avons noté 03 cas de décès. Conclusion : La qualité des soins et l'accès aux soins sont très souvent considérés par les patients comme les éléments essentiels de la performance d'un système de santé. En tant que Etablissement Public Hospitalier (EPH) de niveau 3, il doit bénéficier d'un plateau technique adéquat et d'un personnel médical et paramédical suffisant afin d'assurer une prise en charge correcte des patients

Introduction : Neurosurgery in Mali remains a relatively young discipline compared to other surgical specialties.The aim of this study is to describe the course of neurosurgical emergencies in "Hôpital du Mali". Patients and methods: This is a prospective cross-sectional analytical study that took place at the emergency department of "hôpital du Mali" over a period of 02 months. Are included in this study, all the patients admitted in emergency for whom neurosurgical advice was sought. We identified and analyzed epidemiological, clinical, paraclinical and therapeutic data in 82 patients.Results: Out of a total of 152 patients admitted to our emergency unit, there were 82 cases for which a neurosurgical opinion was requested, ie 53.95% of admissions. Among these 82 patients, there were 50 cases of head trauma, 20 cases of spinal trauma, 08 cases of brain stroke, 03 cases of intracranial suppurations and 01 case of brain tumor. We operated on 41 patients (50%) and observed 32 patients (39.02%). Despite our efforts, 09 patients were released against medical advice or for lack of funds. We noted 03 cases of death. Conclusion: The quality of care and access to care are very often seen by patients as essential elements of the performance of a health system. As a level 3 public hospital, it must have an adequate technical platform and sufficient medical and paramedical staff to ensure correct patient care

A rare case of adult medulloblastoma with spinal metastasis.

Medulloblastoma is a relatively common malignant brain tumor of childhood and relatively rare in adulthood, with a propensity for neuraxial spread via cerebrospinal fluid pathways. Osseous extraneural metastasis is uncommon and when it happens, radiologic findings are of sclerotic (60%), lytic (35%), and mixed patterns (5%) (Algra et al. (1992)). In this paper, we present a case of medulloblastoma metastiaszing to the lumbar spine and describe the magnetic resonance appearance, with emphasis on the image findings mimicking spondylodiscitis.

[Adult spinal cord injury with no radiographic bone lesion: analysis of nine consecutive patients]. / Atteinte médullaire cervicale post-traumatique sans lésion osseuse du rachis chez l'adulte: analyse de neuf cas consécutifs.

BACKGROUND: Spinal cord injury with no radiographic bone lesion described as spinal cord injury without radiographic abnormality (SCIWORA) in childhood is less often reported in adults than in children. This study was undertaken to report our experience in the management of nine cases over 25 years. PATIENTS AND METHODS: This was a retrospective study from 1985 to 2009 concerning nine adult patients who sustained spinal cord injury with no radiographic abnormality. The ratio among all cervical spine traumas for the same period was 2.21%. Magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) was performed in all the patients. The patients' clinical status at the time of admission and discharge was evaluated using the Frankel's grading system. We report the results based on the clinical, epidemiologic and radiological findings and outcomes. RESULTS: The mean age of our population was 37.43 years, ranging from 18 to 60 years. All the patients were men. The main etiology was falls (5/9) followed by road traffic accidents (4/9). According to the Frankel's grading system, four patients (44.45%) were grade A, four were grade B (44.45%), and one was grade C (11.11%). On MRI, medullar lesions were: contusion, non-compressive cervical disc herniation, cervical spine stenosis, and two cases of normal cervical spine. Four patients were operated on via the posterior cervical spine approach (laminectomy, C3-C7 in three cases and C1-C3 in one case). The other five patients were treated orthopaedically for 6 to 8 weeks. Three patients (3/9), who were Frankel's grade B and C with no demonstrable injury on MRI, improved to Frankel a useful neurological grade (Frankel's grades D or E) at the time of discharge. One patient evaluated as Frankel's grade A died from cardiovascular disturbance. CONCLUSION: Spinal cord injury with no radiographic abnormality accounted for 2.21% of cases of spinal cord injury in our series. MRI is the investigation of choice, having diagnostic and prognostic value because it demonstrates neural and extraneural injuries and helps to identify surgically correctable abnormalities.

[Hypothyroidism: clinical and etiological aspects in Cotonou (Republic of Benin)]. / Les hypothyroïdies: aspects cliniques et étiologiques à Cotonou (Bénign).

To evaluate the frequency of clinical manifestations and to study the etiological aspects of hypothyroidism in hypothyroid patients in Cotonou, we carried out a retrospective analysis of the medical reports on hypothyroid patients followed in our clinical practice. A total of 33 patients was thus studied, comprising 8 men (24%) and 25 women (76%) with mean age of 45,8 years for men and 40,4 years for women. The more frequent clinical manifestations observed were: face edema (45%), weight gain (45%), paresthesia (42%), fatigue (39%), lethargy (30%) and bradycardia (24%). Constipation (12%), sensation of cold (9%), depilation (6%) and dry skin (6%) were less frequently observed. Myalgia, hoarseness and menstrual irregularities were present in 15% of the cases respectively. Regarding the etiology, 82% of the cases were primary hypothyroidism and only 18% were of central origin. Thyroidectomy was the leading cause in our hypothyroid patients, representing 70% of all cases and 85% of primary hypothyroidism. Radioiodine treatment and autoimmune thyroiditis were equally found in 6% of the cases. Central hypothyroidism was related to a pituitary adenoma in four cases (12%) and to Sheehan syndrome in two cases (6%). As it can be expected, hypercholesterolemia was present in 82% of the patients but creatine phosphokinase elevation was more frequent (94% of the patients). Compared to the data reported in the literature, the frequency of the symptoms and signs of hypothyroidism seems to be underevaluated in our study and the frequency of autoimmune thyroiditis as a cause of hypothyroidism is low.