Generating Evidence From Contextual Clinical Research in Low- to Middle Income Countries: A Roadmap Based on Theory of Change.

Along with inadequate access to high-quality care, competing health priorities, fragile health systems, and conflicts, there is an associated delay in evidence generation and research from LMICs. Lack of basic epidemiologic understanding of the disease burden in these regions poses a significant knowledge gap as solutions can only be developed and sustained if the scope of the problem is accurately defined. Congenital heart disease (CHD), for example, is the most common birth defect in children. The prevalence of CHD from 1990 to 2017 has progressively increased by 18.7% and more than 90% of children with CHD are born in Low and Middle-Income Countries (LMICs). If diagnosed and managed in a timely manner, as in high-income countries (HICs), most children lead a healthy life and achieve adulthood. However, children with CHD in LMICs have limited care available with subsequent impact on survival. The large disparity in global health research focus on this complex disease makes it a solid paradigm to shape the debate. Despite many challenges, an essential aspect of improving research in LMICs is the realization and ownership of the problem around paucity of local evidence by patients, health care providers, academic centers, and governments in these countries. We have created a theory of change model to address these challenges at a micro- (individual patient or physician or institutions delivering health care) and a macro- (government and health ministries) level, presenting suggested solutions for these complex problems. All stakeholders in the society, from government bodies, health ministries, and systems, to frontline healthcare workers and patients, need to be invested in addressing the local health problems and significantly increase data to define and improve the gaps in care in LMICs. Moreover, interventions can be designed for a more collaborative and effective HIC-LMIC and LMIC-LMIC partnership to increase resources, capacity building, and representation for long-term productivity.

Direct true lumen versus conventional cannulation for acute type-A aortic dissection.

Acute type-A aortic dissection is a surgical emergency and has a high rate of short-term mortality. Aortic dissection is highly under-reported in Pakistan. With the technological developments in its management, arterial cannulation technique of direct true lumen cannulation has emerged with improved outcomes. We aimed to compare the mortality and morbidity outcomes between direct true lumen and conventional cannulation techniques for arterial access in patients with acute type- A aortic dissection under a single-centre retrospective review from 2007 to 2017. Mean age of the participants was 43.3±11.6 vs 45±12.4 years with males being dominant in both groups. Frequency of overall morbidity was high in conventional cannulation group (Group-B), though it did not attain statistical significance, (p>0.999). Mortality rate was also high in Group-B (10% vs 30%), (p=0.582). Direct true lumen cannulation is an equally reliable option for establishing cardiopulmonary bypass due to reduced mortality and morbidity and may be given preference when dissection is extending into femoral and innominate arteries.

Aggressive angiomyxoma in the ischiorectal fossa.

Aggressive Angiomyxoma (AA) is a soft tissue tumour that principally affects women of the reproductive age, primarily involving the pelvis and the perineum. Despite being slow growing, it is classified as aggressive due to its locally infiltrative nature and high recurrence. It is rare, often asymptomatic and is misdiagnosed. However, it has characteristic features on radiographic imaging. Complete surgical resection is the ideal approach to treat AA. We report a case of an aggressive angiomyxoma in a 17 year old female, located in the ischiorectal fossa and diagnosed incidentally on a magnetic resonance imaging (MRI). The lesion was excised without complication.