Advancing access to care: An assessment of the prehospital system in Senegal.

BACKGROUND: Most low- and middle-income countries do not have a mature prehospital system limiting access to definitive care. This study sought to describe the current state of the prehospital system in Senegal and offer recommendations aimed at improving system capacity and population access to definitive care. METHODS: Structured interviews were conducted with key informants in various regions throughout the country using qualitative and quantitative techniques. A standardized questionnaire was generated using needs assessment forms and system frameworks. Descriptive statistics were performed for quantitative data analysis, and qualitative data was consolidated and presented using ATLAS.ti. RESULTS: Two (20%) of the studied regions, Dakar and Saint-Louis, had a mature prehospital system in place, including dispatch centers and teams of trained personnel utilizing equipped ambulances. 80% of the studied regions lacked an established prehospital system. The vast majority of the population relied on the fire department for transport to a healthcare facility. The ambulances in rural regions were not part of a formal prehospital system, were not equipped with life-support supplies, and were limited to inter-facility transfers. CONCLUSIONS: While Dakar and Saint-Louis have mature prehospital systems, the rest of the country is served by the fire department. There are significant opportunities to further strengthen the prehospital system in rural Senegal by training the fire department in basic life support and first aid, maintaining cost efficiency, and building on existing national resources. This has the potential to significantly improve access to definitive care and outcomes of emergent illness in the Senegalese community.

Bezoar in Meckel's diverticulum: Case report and narrative review.

INTRODUCTION: Bezoars are a known cause of complications in Meckel's diverticulum. We present a case in which a bezoar in a Meckel's diverticulum resulted in intestinal obstruction. In addition, we conducted a narrative review to explore the association between Meckel's diverticulum and bezoars. CASE PRESENTATION: We present the case of a 22-year-old patient admitted for bowel obstruction persisting for three days and periumbilical tenderness. Abdominal CT tomography revealed a hyper dense circular structure with a diameter of 2 cm, small bowel distension of 41 mm, and free fluid. During surgical exploration, a Meckel diverticulum was found between the antimesenteric border of the small bowel and posterior wall of the umbilicus. The Meckel diverticulum was resected, and upon examination, it was found to contain a calcified phytobezoar. The postoperative course was uneventful. DISCUSSION: The clinical and paraclinical presentation of bezoars in Meckel's diverticulum is nonspecific and diagnosis remains challenging despite improved diagnostic modalities. The association between Meckel's diverticulum and bezoars is often identified during surgery, as it is difficult to diagnose using CT scans. The choice between laparoscopic and open surgery depends on the patient's situation. CONCLUSION: Diagnosing a bezoar in a Meckel's diverticulum remains challenging. Treatment involves surgery, and the choice of surgical approach depends on the context.

Management of midline ventral hernias in a surgical department of sub-Saharan Africa: A retrospective cohort study.

Introduction: The linea alba is the second most frequent site of abdominal wall hernias after the inguinal region. Prosthetic approach, often recommended, comes up against the low socio-economic level and the availability of these materials in developing countries. Our objective is to evaluate the indications and results of midline ventral hernia surgery. Methods: This was a retrospective cross-sectional study over 36 months including all adult patients (over 15 years old) treated for primary or recurrent midline ventral hernias. The parameters studied were: age, sex, risk factors, type of hernia according to the classification of the European Hernia Society (EHS), clinical presentation, hernial ring size, surgical technique and results (recurrence, chronic pain). Results: We included 65 patients. The mean age was 40.5 years ± 16.4. There was a female predominance (56.3%, n = 36) with a sex ratio of 0.77. According to the EHS classification, type M3 (umbilical) was more common (67.2%), followed by type M2 (epigastric) in 25% and M4 (infra-umbilical) in 1.6%. According to the clinical presentation, 85.6% (n = 55) were uncomplicated, 10.9% (n = 7) were strangulated in and 3.1% (n = 2) incarcerated. A primary suture was performed in 93.8% (n = 61) and a mesh repair in 6.15% (n = 4). With a mean follow-up of 8.2 ± 11.9 months, we noted a recurrence in 6.1% (n = 4) and chronic pain in 6.1% (n = 4). Conclusion: There is a need to individualize or contextualize the guidelines. In our context where meshes are not always available, pure tissue repairs keep their place in the treatment.

Efficacy of laparoscopic surgery in the treatment of hepatic abscess: A systematic review and meta-analysis.

BACKGROUND: Liver abscess is a common cause of intra-abdominal infection and its treatment depends on the presentation. Laparoscopy, in addition to its classic benefits, has particular advantages in the management of liver abscess but its role is not well defined and studies done in that field are heterogenous. The objective of this systematic review is to evaluate the efficacy of laparoscopic surgery in the management of liver abscess. METHODS: We realized a systematic review and meta-analysis including studies published in the 20 last years. The primary outcome was the pooled prevalence of recurrent or residual liver abscess after laparoscopic treatment. RESULTS: We retrieved 190 studies regarding laparoscopic surgery in liver abscess and 17 studies were included in the quantitative and qualitative synthesis. A total of 608 patients was included and 299 of them (49.1%) were treated by laparoscopic surgery. The indications were mainly failure of first line treatment (antibiotic treatment and/or percutaneous drainage and/or needle aspiration) and ruptured multiloculated, or caudate lobe liver abscess. The surgical gesture performed was laparoscopic drainage in all studies. The post-operative rate of recurrent or residual liver abscess after treatment by laparoscopy was 4.22% (95% CI: 2.29-7.07). CONCLUSIONS: This systematic review showed that laparoscopic drainage had a considerable place in the management. The post-operative rate of recurrence was low with no mortality suggesting that laparoscopy is safe and feasible for liver abscess management.

QSIRS Can Improve Accuracy of QSOFA and SIRS in Prediction of Mortality in Surgical Emergencies.

Background The quick sequential organ failure assessment (QSOFA) score and the systemic inflammatory response syndrome (SIRS) criteria were developed to predict the risk of sepsis and death in patients received in emergency. To improve sensitivity in predicting death, the association of the two scores was proposed under the term QSIRS (QSOFA + SIRS). Our aim was to determine the accuracy of QSOFA, SIRS, and QSIRS in prediction of mortality in surgical emergencies, and to compare these scores. Patients and Methods This is a prospective study over a period of 1 year. Patients older than 15 years who presented a digestive surgical emergency (bowel obstruction, peritonitis, appendicitis, strangulated hernia) were included. For each score, the specificity, the sensitivity, the positive predictive value, the negative predictive value, and areas under the receiver operating characteristic (ROC) curve (AUC) were compared. Results One hundred and eighteen patients were included and 11 deaths were recorded (9.3%). There was a statistically significant relationship between each score and death (QSOFA p = 0.01, SIRS p = 0.003, and QSIRS p = 0.004). The realization of the ROC curve found a higher AUC for QSIRS (0.845 [0.767-0.905]) compared with QSOFA (0.783 [0.698-0.854]) and SIRS (0.737 [0.648-0.813]). QSIRS (90.9%) had a higher sensitivity compared with the two other scores alone (SIRS = 81.9% and QSOFA = 36.3%). Conclusion Our study found that QSIRS improves the ability to predict death in digestive surgical emergencies.

Is Desarda technique suitable to emergency inguinal hernia surgery? A systematic review and meta-analysis.

BACKGROUND: Despite the fact that Lichtenstein is the gold standard for uncomplicated inguinal hernia, the use of mesh in an emergency context remains controversial. Pure tissue repairs have an essential role in the management of incarcerated or strangulated inguinal hernia. To date, there has been little agreement on what is the best surgical technique suitable for emergency hernia surgery. This systematic review aims to evaluate the efficacy and safety of the pure tissue Desarda technique for emergency inguinal hernia repair. METHODS: A complete search of electronic databases including PubMed/Medline, Web of Science, Embase and, Cochrane library was realized. Newcastle-Ottawa-Scale (NOS) (selection and outcome criteria) was used for quality assessment of included studies. The pooled prevalence of post-operative complications (surgical site infection, hematoma/seroma, chronic pain and, recurrence rate) was estimated. RESULTS: We included 5 studies from different countries. There were 2 randomized controlled trial and 3 observational cohort studies. Totally, there were 199 patients with a mean age of 57.6 years. Male patients were predominant (n = 196). The pooled prevalence of surgical site infection and hematoma/seroma was respectively 16.56% (95% CI: 11.74-22.39) and 12.43% (95%CI: 6.90-20.108). The pooled prevalence of chronic pain and recurrence was respectively 4.35% (95% CI: 1.04-11.47) and 2.10% (95%CI: 0.61-5.14). CONCLUSIONS: In summary, Desarda technique is feasible in emergency context with good results. We found any particularly important rate of complications considering the surgery in emergency context. Further studies should be realized to raise the level of evidence.

Synchronous sigmoid and transverse volvulus: A case report and qualitative systematic review.

INTRODUCTION: Colonic volvulus is defined as a torsion of a part of the colon causing large bowel obstruction by strangulation which may lead to ischemia and then necrosis. The synchronous occurrence of a sigmoid colon and transverse colon volvulus is exceptional. We describe a case of synchronous sigmoid and transverse volvulus in a patient with a qualitative systematic review of this condition. PRESENTATION OF THE CASE: This is a 74-year-old patient with a history of chronic constipation, who consulted for bowel obstruction. Plain abdominal radiography showed diffuse gas distension of the colon with the absence of rectal gas. An exploratory laparotomy was performed and showed sigmoid colon volvulus associated with synchronous transverse colon volvulus without bowel necrosis. A left hemicolectomy with loop colostomy was performed. The restoration of bowel continuity was done 3 weeks. The post-operative course was uneventful. DISCUSSION: The occurrence of a simultaneous sigmoid and transverse colonic volvulus is an exceptional situation. Due to the rarity of this clinical entity, the literature concerning its description is sparse and the treatment options are poorly codified. There are no guidelines in the treatment and a tailored approach should be used for each patient. CONCLUSION: The dual location of strangulation makes this situation a major surgical emergency with a high risk of gangrene and septic shock. Colectomy with delayed anastomosis should be preferred in the treatment.

[Vulvar squamous cell carcinoma in a HIV-1 infected patient with first-line antiretroviral therapy failure]. / Carcinome épidermoïde de la vulve chez une patiente infectée par le VIH-1 en échec de traitement antirétroviral de première ligne.

Vulvar cancer has been rarely reported in the literature. In young women, it is most often caused by human papillomavirus (HPV), whereas in postmenopausal women, in whom this cancer is more common, it would be caused by estrogen deficiency. Moreover, HIV infection increases the risk of developing vulvar cancer in HIV-positive women as a consequence of the high prevalence of HPV infection in these subjects. Thus, in patients with suspected vulva lesion, biopsy followed by anatomo-pathological examination should be performed in order to establish the diagnosis. We here report a case of vulvar squamous cell carcinoma in a HIV-1-positive patient with first-line antiretroviral therapy (ARV) failure.

Peritoneal Tuberculosis in Infants: Diagnostic Challenges.

Abdominal tuberculosis is rare in immunocompetent infants. We report on two infants with peritoneal tuberculosis (6 and 8 months) who underwent laparotomy for suspected intussusception. In the first patient, characteristic lesions of peritoneal tuberculosis were observed intraoperatively with presence of multiple granulations. Tuberculin intradermal reaction (IDRt) was positive and tuberculous contagium could be cultured. In the second patient, the IDRt and GeneXpert tests were negative. In both patients, the histopathological examination of the biopsy specimens confirmed the diagnosis of peritoneal tuberculosis. The clinical courses under tuberculostatic therapy were favorable in both cases.

[Feasibility and relevance of safety checklist in the central operating block at the Regional Medical Center, Saint Louis, Senegal]. / Faisabilité et pertinence de la check-list de sécurité au bloc opératoire central du Centre Hospitalier Régional de Saint Louis du Sénégal.

INTRODUCTION: Safety checklist (CL) in the operating block is a quality tool which allows to reduce perioperative morbidity and mortality. That is one of the French National Health Authority requirements for the certification procedure of healthcare institutions. This study aimed to conduct a quantitative and qualitative evaluation of the use of this tool in the central operating block at the Regional Medical Center in Saint Louis. METHODS: A prospective evaluation of the indicators for monitoring the practical use of the checklist and the contribution to the improvement of surgical practices in the operating block at the Regional Medical Center in Saint Louis was initiated since the launch of this study in March 2016. RESULTS: CL utilization rate was 75%, compliance rate was 60%; information rate was 99% for the pre-induction items, 93% for the pre-incision items and 88% for the postoperative items. Only 73% of analyzed CL were filled with an effective oral communication according to the three items. CL helped to detect hardware failures and/or adverse events in 15% of cases. No patient's identification or operated side error were objectified in our study. CONCLUSION: CL contributes in the development of the culture of patient's safety in the operating block and has led to the establishment of a risk mapping in the operating block. Nevertheless, while important, it shouldn't be considered a magic tool to avoid errors but integrated into the improvement in health care quality with other programs such as the reporting of adverse events and the the review of morbidity and mortality.