Tetralogy of Fallot in the nascent open-heart surgical era in a tertiary hospital in south-west Nigeria: lessons learnt.

BACKGROUND: Tetralogy of Fallot (TOF) is the leading cyanotic congenital heart disease. We commenced open-heart surgery at the Obafemi Awolowo University Teaching Hospitals Complex (OAUTHC), Ile-Ife, Nigeria in 2016. OBJECTIVES: To review the incidence, pattern, management and treatment outcomes of TOF at the OAUTHC. METHODS: A retrospective audit was undertaken of hospital records, including echocardiograms of patients with TOF seen from January 2016 to February 2020 at the Paediatric Cardiology Unit, OAUTHC. RESULTS: Seventy-two patients (37 boys and 35 girls) aged 0.17-22 years had TOF. Thirty-three (45.8%) had surgery; 31 (93.9%) corrective surgery and two (6.1%) a modified Blalock-Taussig shunt. Complications following surgery included cardiac dysfunction, post-transfusion malaria, pulmonary regurgitation, pericardial effusion and death (15%). Thirty-nine (54.2%) patients had conservative medical management. Complications included polycythaemia and thrombotic stroke, and 14 (35.9%) patients died. CONCLUSIONS: TOF is associated with significant morbidity and mortality in developing countries. Early and safe corrective surgery is desirable.

Early experience with permanent pacemaker implantation at a tertiary hospital in Nigeria.

INTRODUCTION: artificial pacemakers generate electrical impulses and regulate the heart´s conduction system. They are often used to treat individuals with bradycardia. Permanent pacemaker implantation is a lifesaving procedure especially in patients with symptomatic bradyarrhythmias. The objectives was to evaluate the clinical attributes and outcomes of permanent pacemaker implantation in Ile-ife, Nigeria. METHODS: we retrospectively reviewed medical records of 22 patients who had pacemaker implantation from January 2015 to December 2019. Patient´s demographics, clinical presentation, diagnosis, comorbidities, type of device, complications and long-term follow up were studied. RESULTS: sixteen males (72.7%) and 6 females (27.3%) were recruited into the study with ages ranging between 54 and 84 years and a mean of 70.3 +8.7 years. The commonest symptom was easy fatigability (45.5%) followed by syncope (31.8%). The main indication for permanent pacemaker implantation was complete heart block (86.4%). Seventeen (77.3%) patients had hypertension as the comorbidity present at diagnosis. Single chamber (VVIR) pacemaker was implanted in 13(59.1%) patients while dual chamber (DDDR) was implanted in 9(40.9%) patients. Hematoma, pneumothorax and acute lead dislodgement were the complications observed in 3 patients. There was no statistical significance between the type of device implanted and the occurrence of complications, p-value 0. 186. There was no mortality and 15 patients (68.2%) are currently attending regular 6 monthly follow-up. CONCLUSION: complete heart block is the most common indication for permanent pacemaker implantation and the procedure is safe with minimal complications and satisfactory outcomes.

Comparison between flutter valve drainage bag and underwater seal device for the management of non-massive malignant and paramalignant pleural effusions.

INTRODUCTION: The aim of this study is to compare the use of flutter valve drainage bag system as an alternative to conventional underwater seal drainage bottle in the management of non-massive malignant/paramalignant pleural effusion. METHODS: Forty-one patients with non-massive malignant and paramalignant pleural effusions were randomized into two groups. Group A (21patients) had their chest tubes connected to an underwater seal drainage bottle, while group B (20 patients) had their chest tubes connected to a flutter bag drainage device. Data obtained was analyzed with SPSS statistical package (version 16.0). RESULTS: Breast cancer was the malignancy present at diagnosis in 24(58%) patients. Complication rates were similar, 9.5% in the underwater seal group and 10 % in the flutter bag drainage group. The mean duration to full mobilization was 35.0±20.0 hours in the flutter bag group and 52.7±18.5 hours in the underwater seal group, p-value 0.007. The mean length of hospital was 7.9±2.2 days in the flutter bag group and 9.8±2.7 days in the underwater seal group. This was statistically significant, p-value of 0.019. There was no difference in the effectiveness of drainage between both groups, complete lung re-expansion was observed in 16(80%) of the flutter bag group and 18(85.7%) of the underwater seal drainage group, p-value 0.70. CONCLUSION: The flutter valve drainage bag is an effective and safe alternative to the standard underwater seal drainage bottle in the management of non-massive malignant and paramalignant pleural effusion.

Doppler ultrasonographic evaluation of celiac and mesenteric arteries in subjects with sickle cell disease.

Vasculopathy, as occurring in sickle cell disease (SCD), can affect celiac and mesenteric arteries and result in stenosis, with elevated peak systolic velocity (PSV) on Doppler ultrasonography. In six subjects with confirmed SCD in steady state, routine Doppler ultrasonographic examination discovered features of celiac artery (CA) or superior mesenteric artery (SMA) stenosis with CA PSV >200 cm/s (median = 222.8 cm/s; range = 201.5-427.1 cm/s) and/or SMA PSV >275 cm/s (median 183.2 cm/s; range = 87.8-289.3 cm/s). Among the six subjects, five had elevated soluble P-selectin values (median 72.55 ng/mL), while all six (100%) had elevated cystatin C levels (median 4.15 mg/L). Peripheral oxygen saturation was suboptimal in five subjects. All subjects had low hemoglobin concentration levels (median 8.5 g/dL) while four had elevated white blood cell count. Although vaso-occlusive crises result from microvessel occlusion, these findings at the macrovascular level suggest that SCD patients may also be vulnerable to mesenteric ischemic injury, especially in the setting of anemic heart failure from hemolysis.

Pattern of Extremity Arterial Injury and Outcome of Repair in Southwest, Nigeria.

BACKGROUND: Extremity arterial injuries are an important cause of loss of life/limb after trauma. Early intervention is important for the good outcome. OBJECTIVES: The objective of this study is to review the pattern of presentation and study the factors that influences the outcome of extremity arterial injuries in our hospital. PATIENTS AND METHODS: This is a retrospective study of all patients with injuries to the extremity arteries requiring surgical intervention from July 2007 to June 2015. Data obtained included biodata, ischemic time, arteries involved, surgical intervention, and outcomes and analyzed using SPSS version 22. SETTING: Our hospital is the main referral hospital for vascular trauma serving four adjoining states in Nigeria and is linked to major cities by at least 3 Trunk-A federal roads. SUBJECTS: The subjects are patients who were managed in our cardiovascular surgical unit for the study duration (July 2007-June 2015) who had extremity arterial injuries. RESULTS: A total of 36 patients presenting with 40 arterial injuries in 37 limbs were studied. The mean age was 28.4 ± 10.3 years with male preponderance (88.9%). Gunshot injuries were the most common cause of arterial injuries (37.8%), followed by assault (27%). The mean time from injury to presentation for acute injuries was 20.4 h but 23 of the patients (63.8%) presented to the accident and emergency department within 12 h of injury. A limb salvage rate of 64.9% was achieved though ischemic times of ≥12 h were associated with poor outcomes. CONCLUSION: Prolonged ischemic time is associated with poor outcomes. Efforts should be put in place to reduce the limb ischemic times.

Pattern of extremity arterial injury and outcome of repair in Southwest, Nigeria

Background: Extremity arterial injuries are an important cause of loss of life/limb after trauma. Early intervention is important for the good outcome. Objectives: The objective of this study is to review the pattern of presentation and study the factors that influences the outcome of extremity arterial injuries in our hospital. Patients and Methods: This is a retrospective study of all patients with injuries to the extremity arteries requiring surgical intervention from July 2007 to June 2015. Data obtained included biodata, ischemic time, arteries involved, surgical intervention, and outcomes and analyzed using SPSS version 22. Setting: Our hospital is the main referral hospital for vascular trauma serving four adjoining states in Nigeria and is linked to major cities by at least 3 Trunk-A federal roads. Subjects: The subjects are patients who were managed in our cardiovascular surgical unit for the study duration (July 2007­June 2015) who had extremity arterial injuries. Results: A total of 36 patients presenting with 40 arterial injuries in 37 limbs were studied. The mean age was 28.4 ± 10.3 years with male preponderance (88.9%). Gunshot injuries were the most common cause of arterial injuries (37.8%), followed by assault (27%). The mean time from injury to presentation for acute injuries was 20.4 h but 23 of the patients (63.8%) presented to the accident and emergency department within 12 h of injury. A limb salvage rate of 64.9% was achieved though ischemic times of ≥12 h were associated with poor outcomes. Conclusion: Prolonged ischemic time is associated with poor outcomes. Efforts should be put in place to reduce the limb ischemic times

Intima-media thickness of the common femoral artery as a marker of leg ulceration in sickle cell disease patients.

Leg ulceration is a debilitating chronic complication of sickle cell disease (SCD) the pathogenesis of which is yet to be fully elucidated. We hypothesized that SCD patients with histories of previous leg ulcers would have intima hyperplasia of the common femoral artery (CFA). We enrolled 44 SCD patients and 33 age-matched and sex-matched controls with hemoglobin AA. Anthropometric measurements, biochemical parameters, and sonographic intima-media thickness (IMT) of the CFA were determined. The median CFA IMT in SCD limbs with history of leg ulcers (SWLU) was 1.0 mm, whereas it was 0.7 mm in SCD limbs with no history of leg ulcer (SNLU) and 0.60 mm in controls (P < .001). Among the SNLU, 70.3% had CFA IMT <0.9 mm, whereas only 29.7% had CFA IMT ≥0.9 mm. Conversely, only 20.8% of SWLU had CFA IMT <0.9 mm, whereas the remaining 79.2% had CFA IMT ≥0.9 mm. All the controls had CFA IMT <0.9 mm. Binary logistic regression to determine the odds of having leg ulcer among SCD limbs with CFA IMT of ≥0.9 mm yielded an odds ratio of 9, indicating that SCD limbs with CFA IMT ≥0.9 mm had a 9 times greater risk of having leg ulcer compared with those with CFA IMT <0.9 mm. There is a significant increase in the CFA IMT of SCD limbs with ulcer compared with controls and SCD limbs without ulcer, suggesting that arterial vasculopathy plays a major role in the formation of these ulcers.

Early experience with open heart surgery in a pioneer private hospital in West Africa: the Biket medical centre experience.

INTRODUCTION: More than forty years after the first open heart surgery in Nigeria, all open heart surgeries were carried out in government-owned hospitals before the introduction of such surgeries in 2013 at Biket Medical Centre, a privately owned hospital in Osogbo, South-western Nigeria. The aim of this paper is to review our initial experience with open heart surgery in this private hospital. METHODS: All patients who underwent open heart surgery between August 2013 and January 2014 were included in this prospective study. The medical records of the patients were examined and data on age, sex, diagnosis, type of surgery, cardiopulmonary bypass details, complications and length of hospital stay were extracted and the data was analysed using SPSS version 16. RESULTS: Eighteen patients comprising of 12 males and 6 females with ages ranging between 8 months and 52 years (mean= of 15.7 +/- 15 years) were studied. Pericardial patch closure of isolated ventricular septal defect was done in 7 patients (38.9%) while total correction of isolated tetralogy of Fallot was carried out in 5 patients (27.8%). Two patients had mitral valve repair for rheumatic mitral regurgitation. Sixty day mortality was 0%. CONCLUSION: Safe conduct of open heart surgery in the private hospital setting is feasible in Nigeria. It may be our only guarantee of hitch free and sustainable cardiac surgery.

Missed Distal Tracheal Foreign Body in Consecutive Bronchoscopies in a 6-year-old Boy.

It is unusual but not uncommon for foreign bodies to be missed at bronchoscopy. This case report highlights the importance of the clinical history in the diagnosis of aspirated foreign bodies and the usefulness of chest imaging modalities. A 6-year-old boy presented with recurrent breathlessness and cough of 2 months. He was said to have aspirated the base cap of a pen at about the time symptoms started. He had two sessions of rigid bronchoscopy and a session of flexible bronchoscopy at three different hospitals. He had an initial rigid bronchoscopy which failed to show the foreign body (FB). A chest computerized tomographic scan demonstrated the FB, which was retrieved at combined flexible/rigid bronchoscopy. Although rigid bronchoscopy is the gold standard for managing airway foreign bodies, there remains a false negative rate for this procedure and where necessary, appropriate imaging may compliment rigid bronchoscopy, especially where there is some confusion.

Audit of availability and distribution of paediatric cardiology services and facilities in Nigeria.

BACKGROUND: Paediatric cardiac services in Nigeria have been perceived to be inadequate but no formal documentation of availability and distribution of facilities and services has been done. OBJECTIVE: To evaluate and document the currently available paediatric cardiac services in Nigeria. METHODS: In this questionnaire-based, cross-sectional descriptive study, an audit was undertaken from January 2010 to December 2014, of the personnel and infrastructure, with their distributions according to geopolitical zones of Nigeria. RESULTS: Forty-eight centres participated in the study, with 33 paediatric cardiologists and 31 cardiac surgeons. Echocardiography, electrocardiography and pulse oximetry were available in 45 (93.8%) centres while paediatric intensive care units were in 23 (47.9%). Open-heart surgery was performed in six (12.5%) centres. South-West zone had the majority of centres (20; 41.7%). CONCLUSIONS: Available paediatric cardiac services in Nigeria are grossly inadequate and poorly distributed. Efforts should be intensified to upgrade existing facilities, establish new and functional centres, and train personnel.

Strangulated tension viscerothorax with gangrene of the stomach in missed traumatic diaphragmatic rupture.

Acquired diaphragmatic hernias are usually posttraumatic in occurrence. In patients who have blunt trauma and associated diaphragmatic hernia, the diagnosis may be missed or delayed, often leading to poor treatment outcomes. We present a rare occurrence of tension viscerothorax due to missed traumatic diaphragmatic rupture in a 25-year-old woman whose condition was complicated by gangrene and perforation of the fundus as well as questionable viability of the anterior wall of the body of the stomach. The patient had a successful emergency transabdominal suture plication of the diaphragm and gastroplasty and has remained symptomless 3 months postoperatively.

Challenges in the management of massive haemoptysis in a resource-scarce facility.

Massive hemoptysis is a life-threatening condition requiring multidisciplinary management not often available in resource-deprived countries with a limited range of therapeutic options. Prognosis is poor when salvage surgery is offered during active bleeding.

The prospect of anatomy as a career choice among clinical year medical students in Nigeria.

BACKGROUND: Medical doctors are potential important source of anatomy teachers. The aim of this study was to determine the choice of anatomy as a career option among medical students in a Nigerian medical school METHOD: Descriptive survey of second- and third-year medical students using a self-administered questionnaire to asses age, sex, perception of anatomy as a subject, anatomy training experience and choice of anatomy as a career among respondents. Analysis was conducted using the SPSS and statistical significance inferred at P RESULTS: Three hundred and fifty three (85.3% response rate) who completely filled questionnaire were returned and analyzed of which 195 (55.2%) were males and 158(44.8%) were females. Their ages ranged between 18 and 37 years with a mean of 22.4 9.9 years. Although most students agreed that anatomy was an important subject in medical sciences 346 (98%), they had benefited from anatomy training in their clinical classes 320 (90.7%), and the knowledge of anatomy is useful in investigating patients with certain diseases 251 (71.1%), only 22 (6.2%) would choose anatomy as a career. Male students were more likely to choose anatomy as a career (P=0.026). Textbooks were the most common 334 (94.5%), while radiological means were the least 23 (6.5%) method employed in learning anatomy. CONCLUSION: Anatomy as a subject is perceived positively by clinical medical students, but the choice as a career option is low; attempt at increasing career interest is needful.

Cardiac tamponade as a sequela to ventriculoatrial shunting for congenital hydrocephalus.

Cardiac tamponade is a life-threatening condition that demands prompt diagnosis and emergency intervention to prevent the sequelae of persistent low cardiac output, cardiopulmonary failure, and death. Cardiac tamponade due to pericardial collection of cerebrospinal fluid is a rare but recognized sequela associated with ventriculoatrial shunts used in the management of congenital hydrocephalus.Herein, we describe the treatment of an 8-month-old infant with multiple congenital anomalies who presented with cardiac tamponade. This condition was caused by cardiac perforation by the distal tip of a ventriculoatrial shunt catheter. Timely pericardiostomy and repair of the cardiac perforation through a left anterior thoracotomy resulted in an uneventful recovery.