Cardiac pacing challenge in Sub-Saharan Africa environnement: experience of the Cardiology Department of Teaching Hospital Aristide Le Dantec in Dakar.

BACKGROUND: Cardiac pacing is a growing activity in Sub-Saharan Africa. There is little data on the characteristics of this interventional treatment in our regions. The goal was to evaluate the results of cardiac pacing in a referral service in sub-Saharan Africa. METHODS: We carried out a twelve-year retrospective study (from January 1st, 2004 to December 31st, 2015) in the Cardiology Department of Aristide Le Dantec University Hospital. This work included all patients who received definitive cardiac pacing during the study period and followed up in the service. RESULTS: In total we included 606 patients. There was a growing trend in activity with a peak in 2015 (17%). The average age was 70.6 ± 12.03 years. Some patients (15.4%) came from the subregion. The patients were mostly of medium socio-economic level (53%); 14% were of low socio-economic level. Patients were symptomatic in 85% of cases (37.4% syncope). The indications were dominated by complete atrioventricular block (81.5%); sinus dysfunction accounted for 1.9% of them. A temporary pacemaker was used in 60% of cases for an average duration of 5.1 ± 6.3 days. Antibiotics, local anesthesia and analgesics were used in all cases. Implanted pacemakers were single chamber in 56% of cases and double chamber in 44% of cases. In 39 patients (6.4%), the pacemaker was a « re-used ¼ one. The atrial leads were most often placed in a lateral position (94.5%). The ventricular ones were predominantly tined (95.7%) and more often located at the apical level. Complications were noted in 24 patients (3.9%), dominated by devices externalizations and infections, which together accounted for 2.7% of cases. The number of people in the cathlab was significantly higher and the duration of the temporary pacemaker was longer for patients who had a complication. There was no significant difference depending on the type of pacemaker used (new or reused). Seven (7) in hospital death cases were reported. CONCLUSION: Cardiac pacing is a growing activity in Dakar.

Marfan syndrome and cardiovascular complications: results of a family investigation.

BACKGROUND: Cardiovascular complications in Marfan syndrome (MFS) make all its seriousness. Taking as a basis the Ghent criteria, we conducted a family screening from an index case. The objective was to describe the clinical characteristics of MFS anomalies and to detect cardiovascular complications in our patients. CASE PRESENTATION: Six subjects were evaluated. Patients had to be in the same uterine siblings of the index case or be a descendant. The objective was to search for MFS based on the diagnostic criteria of Ghent and, subsequently, detecting cardiovascular damage. The average age was 24 years. The examination revealed three cases of sudden death in a context of chest pain. Five subjects had systemic involvement with a score ≥ 7 that allowed to the diagnosis of MFS. Two patients had simultaneously ectopia lentis and myopia. In terms of cardiovascular damage, there were three cases of dilatation of the aortic root, two cases of aortic dissection of Stanford's type A with severe aortic regurgitation in one case and moderate in the other. There were three patients with moderate mitral regurgitation with a case by valve prolapse. CONCLUSION: The family screening is crucial in Marfan syndrome. It revealed serious cardiovascular complications including sudden death and aortic dissection.

Prevalence of rheumatic heart disease in Senegalese school children: a clinical and echocardiographic screening.

OBJECTIVE: To study the prevalence of rheumatic heart disease (RHD) in schools (locally referred to as 'daaras') located in the city of Dakar and its suburbs using both clinical examination and echocardiography. METHODS: This is a cross-sectional study conducted from 9 August to 24 December 2011 involving 2019 pupils, aged between 5 and 18 years selected from the 16 'daaras' of the Academic Inspectorate (Inspection d'Académie) of the city of Dakar and its suburbs. Anamnestic, clinical and echocardiographic data were collected and entered into a questionnaire designed for the study. The World Heart Federation criteria for echocardiographic diagnosis were used to diagnose RHD. p<0.05 was considered statistically significant in bivariate analysis. RESULTS: About 60.1% of the pupils were men and the mean age was 9.7±3.3 years. 10 cases of definite RHD were detected, prevalence being 4.96 per 1000 (95% CI 2.4 to 9.1). This prevalence was five times higher with echocardiographic screening compared with clinical screening. 23 cases (11.4 per 1000) of borderline forms were detected. The populations at risk of definite RHD identified in our study were children over 14 years (p<0.001), those with recurrent sore throat (p=0.003) and those residing in the suburbs of the city of Dakar (p<0.001). CONCLUSION: Our study shows a relatively high prevalence of RHD. Reducing its prevalence should focus on the implementation of appropriate policies, targeting at-risk populations and focusing on raising awareness and early detection.

[Acute myocardial infarction complicated by acute pulmonary oedema and cardiogenic collapse during dobutamine stress echocardiography]. / Acute myocardial infarction complicated by acute pulmonary oedema and cardiogenic collapse during dobutamine stress echocardiography

Acute myocardial infarction is a rare complication of dobutamine stress echocardiography. We describe the case of a diabetic patient who presented with an anterior myocardial infarction complicated by an acute pulmonary oedema and cardiogenic collapse during dobutamine stress echocardiography, requiring five days' hospitalisation. Coronarography could not be performed because of inadequate medical facilities.