[Contribution of cardiac CT in the management of congenital heart disease : experience of the Abidjan cardiology institute in 27 cases]. / Apport du scanner cardiaque dans la prise en charge des cardiopathies congénitales : expérience de l'institut de cardiologie d'Abidjan à propos de 27 cas.

INTRODUCTION AND OBJECTIVES: In contrast to developed countries, cardiac CT is not widely used in West Africa for the assessment of congenital heart disease, and has only recently been introduced in Côte d'Ivoire. The lack of data prompted this study, the aim of which was to describe our experience of the contribution of CT to the management of congenital heart disease in the Ivorian cardiology setting. PATIENTS AND METHOD: This was a prospective study which took place in the pediatric cardiology department over a period of 9 months (September 2022 to June 2023) which included all patients with congenital heart disease explored by echocardiography and cardiac scan. RESULTS: The average age was 5.7 ± 4.7 years with extremes of 5 months and 16 years. We noted a female predominance with a sex ratio of 0.52. The main heart diseases were: tetralogy of Fallot (37.1%), followed by pulmonary atresia with open septum (18.52%). The assessment of the anatomy of the pulmonary arteries (81.48%), the search for aortopulmonary collaterals (59.63%) and finally the assessment of the anatomy of the aorta (18.52%) were the main indications. The practice of cardiac CT scanning has enabled better accuracy in the diagnosis and management of congenital heart disease in several cases: an interruption of the aortic arch was found in 1 case initially suspected of hypoplasia of the aortic arch, three cases of partial abnormal pulmonary venous return and one case of total abnormal pulmonary venous return. Also, agenesis of the left pulmonary artery with birth anomaly of the right coronary artery in the assessment of tetralogy of Fallot was found in 1 case. The CT scan made it possible to specify the exact topography of the aortopulmonary collaterals in four cases of pulmonary atresia with an open septum. CONCLUSION: CT has enabled better visualization of the arterial and venous pulmonary tree, identification and exact localization of aorto-pulmonary collaterals, precise description of the three-dimensional anatomy of the coronary arteries, and better precision of congenital anomalies of the aorta.

Scanner cardiaque pédiatrique dans le diagnostic des cardiopathies congénitales: expérience abidjanaise / Pediatric cardiac computed tomography in the diagnosis of congenital heart disease: Abidjan experience

Objectif.Depuis 2008, la Haute Autorité Sanitaire recommande la réalisation du scanner cardiaque dans le diagnostic des cardiopathies congénitales. Celui-ci aide à confirmer et préciser les anomalies mal définies à l'échocardiographie. Dans les pays développés, le scanner cardiaque est un examende routine pour le diagnostic des cardiopathies congénitales. En Côte-d'Ivoire, sa pratique est récente.L'objectif de cette étude était de décrire les techniques et résultats des scanners cardiaques pédiatriques réalisés dans une structure privée à Abidjan.Matériels et méthodes.Il s'agissait d'une étude descriptive rétrospective sur une période de 2 mois qui a inclus tous les enfants reçus à la clinique la rosette pour la réalisation d'un scanner cardiaque indiqué pour l'évaluation d'une cardiopathie congénitale. Les examens ont été réalisés sous sédation légère pour les enfants de moins de 7 ans.Résultats.Vingt scanners cardiaques pédiatriques ont été réalisés. Les indications des scanners cardiaques pédiatriques étaient la tétralogie de Fallot (15 cas), l'atrésie pulmonaire à septum ouvert (APSO) (2 cas), la communication inter auriculaire (CIA) (1 cas), la CIA associée à une communication interventriculaire (CIV) (1 cas) et la sténose pulmonaire supra valvulaire (1 cas). Dans les cas de Tétralogie deFallot et d'APSO, les branches pulmonaires et les collatérales aorto-pulmonaires ont été visualisées et mesurées. Pour le bilan de , un retour veineux pulmonaire non visualisé à l'échocardiographie a été retrouvé au scanner cardiaque. Dans tous les cas, un bilan tomodensitométrique malformatif était réalisé : recherche d'anomalies coronaires et d'arcs aortiques.Après réalisation du scanner cardiaque, 5 enfants ont bénéficié d'une cure chirurgicale. On notait une concordance entre les diagnostics peropératoires et tomodensitométriques

Objective. Since 2008, the French National Authority for Health recommends the use of a cardiac scanner for the diagnosis of congenital heart disease. It helps to confirm and clarify abnormalities that are poorly defined on echocardiography. In developed countries,cardiac CT is a routine examination for the diagnosis of congenital heart disease. In Côte d'Ivoire, its practice is recent. Materials and Methods. This was a retrospective descriptive study over a period of 2 months which included all children received at the Rosette clinic for a cardiac scan indicated for the evaluation of congenital heart disease. The examinations were performed under light sedation for children under 7 years of age. Results. Twenty paediatric cardiac scans were performed. The indications for the paediatric cardiac scans were tetralogy of Fallot (15 cases), pulmonary atresia with ventricular septal defect (PAVSD) (2 cases), atrial septal defect (ASD) (1 case), ASD associated with ventricular septal defect (VSD) (1 case) and supravalvular pulmonary stenosis (1 case). In cases of Tetralogy of Fallot and APSO, pulmonary arteries and aorto-pulmonary collaterals were visualised and measured. For the assessment of ASD, an anomalous pulmonary venous return not visualised on echocardiography was found on cardiac computed tomography (CT). In all cases, a malformative CT scan was performed: search for coronary, aortic arch. After the cardiac, 5 children underwent surgical treatment. There was concordance between the intraoperative and CT diagnoses. Conclusion. In our experience, cardiac CT now represents, minimally invasive, complementary diagnostic tool for the evaluation of congenital heart disease.

Poor adherence to medication and salt restriction as a barrier to reaching blood pressure control in patients with hypertension: Cross-sectional study from 12 sub-Saharan countries.

BACKGROUND: Sub-Saharan Africa is experiencing a rising burden of hypertension. Antihypertensive medications and diet are the cornerstone of effective hypertension control. AIMS: To assess adherence to medication and salt restriction in 12 sub-Saharan countries, and to study the relationship between adherence and blood pressure control in patients with hypertension. METHODS: We conducted a cross-sectional survey in urban clinics in twelve sub-Saharan countries. Data were collected on demographics, treatment and adequacy of blood pressure control in patients with hypertension attending the clinics. Adherence was assessed by questionnaires completed by the patients. Hypertension grades were defined according to European Society of Cardiology guidelines. Association between adherence and blood pressure control was investigated using multilevel logistic regression analysis, adjusting for age, sex and country. RESULTS: Among the 2198 patients, 77.4% had uncontrolled blood pressure, 34.0% were poorly adherent to salt restriction, 64.4% were poorly adherent to medication and 24.6% were poorly adherent to both. Poor adherence to salt restriction (odds ratio [OR] 1.33, 95% confidence interval [CI] 1.03-1.72), medication (OR 1.56, 95% CI 1.25-1.93) or both (OR 1.91 1.39-2.66) was related to uncontrolled blood pressure. Moreover, poor adherence to both medication and salt restriction was related to a 1.52-fold (95% CI 1.04-2.22), 1.8-fold (95% CI 1.22-2.65) and 3.08-fold (95% CI 2.02-4.69) increased likelihood of hypertension grade 1, 2 and 3, respectively. CONCLUSIONS: High levels of poor adherence to salt restriction and medication were noted in this urban sub-Saharan study; both were significantly associated with uncontrolled blood pressure, representing major opportunities for intervention to improve hypertension control in sub-Saharan Africa.

The experience of transcatheter closure of postoperative ventricular septal defect after total correction.

BACKGROUND: The purpose of this study was to describe our experience with patients who underwent transcatheter closure of a post-operative ventricular septal defect (VSD). METHODS: All patients who underwent transcatheter closure of a VSD after total correction of congenital heart disease since 2012 were enrolled. Medical records were retrospectively reviewed to determine the patients' initial diagnosis, closure device used, and final outcome after device closure. RESULTS: Six patients with a median age of 17.7 years (range: 7 months-48 years) underwent transcatheter closure of an unresolved VSD. The median time interval from the initial corrective surgery to the percutaneous closure procedure was 10.4 years (range: 0.3-33.0 years). The initial diagnoses included tetralogy of Fallot (one patient), VSD (two patients), double outlet of the right ventricle (two patients), and aortic valve stenosis (one patient). The reasons for unresolved VSD (other than leakage) after corrective surgery included previous fenestration (in two patients), and iatrogenic Gerbode shunt (in one patient). Various devices were used, including the Amplatzer duct occluder I, Amplatzer duct occluder II, Amplatzer vascular plug II, and Cocoon membranous VSD occluder. Only one device was used in each patient. There were no major complications associated with the closure procedures. The immediate results were satisfactory. The median follow-up duration was 2.75 years. All cases were successful, with the exception of minimal leak in one patient. CONCLUSIONS: Transcatheter device closure of post-operative VSD can be performed using various device types of devices and is safe and effective. But more experiences are mandatory.

May Measurement Month 2017: an analysis of blood pressure screening results in Cote d'Ivoire-Sub-Saharan Africa.

Elevated blood pressure (BP) is a growing burden worldwide, leading to over 10 million deaths each year. In Cote d'Ivoire, high BP is the first risk factor for stroke and myocardial infarction. May Measurement Month (MMM) is a global initiative of the International Society of Hypertension aimed at raising awareness of high BP and to act as a temporary solution to the lack of screening programmes worldwide. An opportunistic cross-sectional survey of volunteers aged ≥18 was carried out in May 2017. BP measurement, the definition of hypertension and statistical analysis followed the standard MMM17 protocol. A Coordinators Team was created. All doctors in cardiology training of Abidjan Institute of Cardiology (N = 72) were briefed to carry out the MMM study as investigators, and 55 sites were created. These were major urban transport stations, supermarkets and markets, and churches. BP was calculated from the mean of the 2nd and 3rd readings, and hypertension was defined as a systolic BP of at least 140 mmHg and/or a diastolic BP of at least 90 mmHg or being on BP-lowering treatment. We screened 24 563 individuals during MMM17, with mean age of 37 years. After multiple imputations, 5015 (20.4%) had hypertension. Of individuals not receiving anti-hypertensive medication, 3943 (16.8%) were hypertensive. Of individuals receiving anti-hypertensive medication, 583 (54.4%) had uncontrolled BP. MMM17 was the largest BP screening campaign undertaken in Cote d'Ivoire. MMM allowed us to identify many undiagnosed and inadequately treated hypertension cases and could usefully lower the burden attributed to increased BP. MMM should be continued.

Hypertension management in an outpatient clinic at the Institute of Cardiology of Abidjan (Ivory Coast).

BACKGROUND: Elevated blood pressure is one of the most important modifiable risk factors for cardiovascular diseases. AIM: To evaluate blood pressure management in Côte d'Ivoire. METHODS: A retrospective study was conducted among 2575 hypertensive patients from the Institute of Cardiology of Abidjan, who were followed for at least 10 years, between January 2000 and December 2009. RESULTS: The patients' mean age ± standard deviation was 59.1 ± 12.5 years; 54.3% were women. At first presentation, hypertension was stage 1 in 21.7%, stage 2 in 32.3% and stage 3 in 46.0% of patients. According to the European guidelines' stratification of the cardiovascular risk-excess attributable to high blood pressure, 46.7% had a very high added risk, 37.8% had a high added risk and 14.9% had a low-to-moderate added risk. Pharmacological therapy was prescribed in 97.8% of patients; more than 66% were receiving at least two antihypertensive drugs, including fixed-dose combination drugs. The most common agents used were diuretics (59.7%) followed by angiotensin-converting enzyme inhibitors or angiotensin receptor blockers (59.6%). The most common agents for monotherapy were calcium antagonists. When two or more drugs were used, diuretics and angiotensin-converting enzyme inhibitors or angiotensin receptor blockers were most commonly used. Blood pressure control was achieved in 43.7% of cases. CONCLUSION: In our series, severe hypertension with high added risk or very high added risk was very common. Treatment--mostly diuretics and angiotensin-converting enzyme inhibitors or angiotensin receptor blockers--required at least two antihypertensive drugs to meet the recommended blood pressure target.