Long-term prognosis of patients with permanent cardiac pacemaker indication in three referral cardiac centers in Cameroon: Insights from the National pacemaker registry.

BACKGROUND: There is evidence that cardiac pacemakers improve symptoms and quality of life in patients with severe bradycardia. Globally, the number of pacemaker implantations is on the rise. However, the associated high-cost limits pacemaker's accessibility in low resource settings. This study aimed to investigate access to pacemakers and the long-term outcome of patients requiring a pacemaker. METHOD: We conducted a cohort study in 03 health care structures in Cameroon. Participants aged at least 18 years with indication for a permanent pacemaker between January 2010 and May 2016 were included. Clinical profile, electrocardiography, pacemaker implantation parameters were recorded. Long-term survival was studied by event-free analysis using the Kaplan-Meier method. RESULTS: In total, 147 participants (mean age 67.7±13.7 years, female 58.5%) were included. Fatigue (78.7%), dyspnoea (77.2%), dizziness (47.1%) and palpitations (40.4%) were the main symptoms while syncope was present in 35.7% of patients. The main indication for cardiac pacemaker was atrioventricular block (85.3%). Forty (27.2%) could not be implanted with 34 (85%) of participants highlighting cost of intervention as main reason. VVIR was the main mode of stimulation (70.5%). Of 125 patients in which follow-up was ascertained, 17(13.5%) died after a median survival time of 2.8 years post diagnosis [IQR: 1.8-4.2]. The survival curve was better in participants with a pacemaker with a Hazard ratio of 2.7 [CI: 1.0-7.3, P=0.045]. CONCLUSION: Our patients with severe heart blocks presented late and more than a quarter did not have access to pacemaker but its implantation multiplied the survival rate by 2.7 times at approximately 3 years post diagnosis. Improving early detection of heart blocks and access to cardiac pacing to reduce mortality shall be a key future priority.

The role of surgery in the management of Pott's disease in Yaoundé. A review of 43 cases.

INTRODUCTION: Pott's disease is a common entity in our hospital. The authors report their experience in the surgical treatment of Pott disease. PATIENTS AND METHODS: This is a retrospective study including all patients who underwent surgery for Pott's disease in our institution between November 1999 and November 2004. RESULTS: Forty-three patients were included, including 23 men and 20 women (ratio 1.15). Location of the disease was cervical (2 cases), dorsal (19 cases), dorsolumbar (2 cases) lumbar (16 cases) and sacrolumbar (4 cases). Ten patients were HIV positive (24%). The surgical indication was sometimes diagnostic, but predominantly therapeutic (medullary compression, instability or deformity). Spinal decompression alone was performed in 23 cases, associated with internal fixation of the spine (17 cases) or external immobilization (Halo Vest) in two cases. The anterior approach was used in four cases and a posterior approach in 38 cases. Decompression by posterior approach included 1 or 2 level laminectomy alone or associated with internal plate fixation (4 pedicle screws and 2 plates). There was no functional recovery in patients with a complete neurological deficit (Frankel A); those with a severe deficit (Frankel B) partially recovered, while those with more moderate deficits (Frankel C and D) recovered completely. Fusion was obtained (graft integration) regardless of the surgical approach used, progression of the deformity was stopped and early mobilization was possible. CONCLUSION: Surgery definitely plays a role in the diagnosis and treatment of Pott's disease, especially in countries where patients are seen at a late stage of the disease when complications have developed. Surgical decompression should not be delayed until lesions become ischemic and irreversible (Frankel A). LEVEL OF EVIDENCE: Level IV. Retrospective study.

[Mortality of neonatal surgical emergencies at the Gynecology-Obstetric and Pediatric hospital of Yaounde, Cameroon]. / Mortalité des urgences chirurgicales néonatates à l'hôpital gynéco-obstétrique et pédiatrique de Yaoundé, Cameroun.

From July 2005 to November 2009, 38 neonates with surgical emergencies died in the neonatal unit of the Gyneco Obstetric and Pediatric Hospital Yaounde. The mortality rate of these emergencies was 43.1%, and those within the age group of 1 to 7 days were the most affected with a sex ratio of 1.2. The mean delay before consultation was 3.7 days. Half of the neonates had a birth weight of less than 2,500 g and 7 cases (18.4%) were premature. A medicalised ambulance was used for transfer to our unit in only half of the neonates. The main disorders were those affecting the digestive tract in 42.1% of our series. In 50% of our cases, there were associated malformations and 28 cases (73.7%) did not undergo surgery. Malnutrition and infection were the main complications in 60% of the cases. The authors discuss this deplorable situation and suggest recommendations for improvement.

[Current clinical features of acute appendicitis in adult in Yaounde, Cameroon]. / Aspects cliniques actuels des appendicites aiguës de l'adulte à Yaoundé, Cameroun.

Our study on acute appendicitis in adults aimed to report current data in Yaounde, Cameroon. This retrospective study included 323 patients, with 185 men against 138 women (sex ratio: 1.37). Mean age was 28.3 years old. Incidence was of 4.6%. Symptoms appeared within a delay of 3 to 4 days and consisted of the triad: abdominal pain (97.5%), vomiting (44%) and anorexia (39.9%). 99.7% of the patients presented with hyperthermia whereas defence on palpation in the right iliac fossa was noted in 307 patients. Rectal examination was evocative in 92.7% of the cases. Hypemeutrophilia was found in 84.9% of the patients. Plain abdominal radiography (PAR) orientated the diagnosis in 74.3% of cases; echography was very useful in abscesses (6,5%). 96.7% of the patients underwent surgery within an average time of 48 hours. McBurney incision was performed in 232 cases. Appendice in the inner latero caecal position was predominant in 243 cases. In seven cases (2.2%), appendice was normal; 2 Meckel's diverticula were discovered (0.6%). We carried out 309 anterograde appendectomies, 317 irvaginations of the appendicular root and 14 epiplooplasties. 302 histological exams were performed; catarrhal appendicitis were ranking first: 167 cases. Morbidity reached 14.2% dominated by sepsis (71.7%). The mortality rate was 0.6%. A better diagnostic approach together with a better sensitisation of the population may shorten surgical delays inducing a decrease of morbidity of acute appendicitis in Cameroon.

Morphine versus morphine-ketamine association in the management of post operative pain in thoracic surgery.

The aim of this study was to assess the quality of postoperative analgesia obtained with morphine-ketamine association administered in self-pain controlled analgesia, as well as the amount of morphine that has been spared. Patients who had to undergo thoracic surgery were selected. They were divided into two groups: G1 was made up of patients receiving 0.5 mg/ml of morphine associated with a placebo, with boluses of 2 ml and refractory periods of 5 minutes ; and G2 made up of patients receiving 0.5 mg/ml of ketamine associated with 0.5 mg/ml of morphine with same boluses and refractory periods. The assessment of pain at rest and on stimulation was carried out with the visual analogue scale. The response to pain and the amount of morphine spared were evaluated. Fifty patients with an average age of 34 years were selected. The assessment showed that the response to pain at rest was the same in the two groups as from the twelfth hour. On stimulation, the analgesic response was better in G2 as well as the amount of morphine spared. This study shows that the administration of ketamine in association with morphine in the post operative period procures a favourable efficiency-tolerance relationship and provides a good means of sparing morphine.

[Stress fracture of the femur: a rare complication of sickle cell disease]. / Fracture de stress du fémur dans la drépanocytose: une complication rare.

A 24-year-old patient with homozygous sickle cell disease developed a stress fracture of the femur. Successive x-rays demonstrated defective ossification and a spontaneous unicortical fracture with no notion of trauma or stressful activities (e.g. sports) followed six months later by a bicortical fracture with displacement and periosteal reaction leading to the diagnosis of stress fracture. This type of fracture has not been reported previously in sickle cell disease. The patient was treated with centromedullary nailing. The follow-up was uneventful. Bone healing was achieved at three months. The patient was pain free and could walk without crutches. Stress fracture is a potential diagnosis in homozygous sickle cell disease patients with defective ossification who present spontaneous pain even when plain x-rays do not visualize an overt fracture. Computed tomography or magnetic resonance imaging should be performed when available. Conventional treatment with nailing provides successful cure with good functional outcome.