Isolated Ventricular Septal Defect: Ultrasound, Therapeutic and Evolutionary Aspects of 85 Cases in the Cardiology Department of the Ignace Deen National Hospital in Conakry

Introduction: Ventricular septal defect (VSD) is the most common congenital heart disease of all congenital heart defects. The aim of this study was to investigate the echographic, therapeutic and evolutionary aspects of ventricular septal defects (VSD) in the general cardiology department of the Hôpital National Ignace Deen. Methods: A retrospective data collection was carried out from January 2018 to December 2023 including 85 cases of isolated IVC was performed. The variables studied were epidemiological, clinical, paraclinical, therapeutic and evolutionary. Results: Of the 320 patients seen during the study period for congenital heart disease, 85 (26.556%) were isolated IVCs. Age at diagnosis ranged from 3 months to 16 years, with an average age of 3.59 years. The most represented ethnic group was the Fulani (50.58%). The 8.24% came from consanguineous marriage versus 22.35%. 91.76% of children had a history of bronchitis. The most common clinical signs found were systolic murmur (90.58%), growth retardation (51.76%). Only 4 cases (4.70%) had a malformation associated with IVC represented by DiGeorges disease (2.35%) and trisomy 21 (2.35%). Nearly half the patients had type IIb VIC (44.71%). The other half were represented by type 1 (18.82%), type IIa (20%), type III (10.59%) and type IV (5.88%). According to site more than two-thirds of VICs (71.64%) were perimembranous in location, followed by infundibular (16.47%) and muscular (11.76%) VICs. In our study 55.29% presented an indication for both surgical intervention and medical treatment, while 16.47% required only medical treatment. In contrast, 28.23% were placed under exclusive surveillance. Of the 47 patients for whom surgery was indicated, 29 (61.17%) underwent surgical repair, while 18 (38.83%) were awaiting confirmation for surgery. Conclusion: VIC is the most common congenital heart disease. An early detection strategy and the establishment of specialized centers could improve the outcome of these children.

Deep Vein Thrombosis Revealing Prostate Cancer about a Case in the Cardiology Department of the Ignace Deen National Hospital in Conakry

Introduction: Deep vein thrombosis is a frequent disease, its origin is most often multifactorial. Venous thromboembolic disease (MVTE) and cancer are two frequently entangled pathologies. Here we report the diagnosis of deep vein thrombosis that discovered prostate cancer in an 88-year-old Guinean man. On clinical examination, there was a painful and hot swelling of the right leg, an absence of sloshing of the calf, a positive sign of Homans. The digital rectal examination revealed an enlarged prostate with an irregular surface. Cardiopulmonary auscultation was normal. The electrocardiogram showed a regular sinus rhythm at 65 cycles/min, with no sign of enlarged cavities or conduction disturbance. Venous Doppler ultrasound of the lower limbs showed the presence of an extensive acute deep venous thrombosis of the right sural vein extended to the popliteal and to the homolateral deep femoral. The reino-vesico-prostatic ultrasound concluded in a heterogeneous prostatic hypertrophy with projection of a median lobe associated with a bladder of fight with an important post voiding residue evaluated at 170 ml;the rate of specific antigen of the prostate PSA was at 84.87 ng/ml. The pathology analysis made after a prostate biopsy puncture concluded with an adenocarcinoma with a Gleason score of 3. Conclusion: The association of venous thromboembolic disease (MVTE) and neoplasia is frequent. The existence of active cancer in a patient is a known risk factor for MVTE and, conversely, the discovery of a first episode of deep vein thrombosis (DVT) or pulmonary embolism (PE) may be the mode of revelation of cancer.

Atypical Coarctation of the Aorta Revealed by Arterial Hypertension in a 22-Year-Old Young Man

Non-isthmic coarctation of the aorta is a rare congenital malformation in adults. Arterial hypertension is a frequent circumstance of discovery. We reported the case of a 22-year-old Guinean man who had been followed for 5 years for hypertension. Clinically, he presented with hypertension of the upper limbs with a systolic pressure gradient of 100 mmHg. The diagnosis was confirmed by thoracic angioscan, which showed a 65.8% coarctation of the abdominal aorta. He was on triple antihypertensive therapy combining Atenolol 100 mg, Amlodipine 10 mg and Perindopril 10 mg. He is awaiting interventional treatment. His blood pressure is stable at around 140/90 mmHg.

Cardiac Amyloidosis: A Case Report of Seven Patients

Introduction: Cardiac amyloidosis is a rare and under-diagnosed disease. The objective of this study was to collect cases of cardiac amyloidosis in patients hospitalized in the cardiology department of the Centre Hospitalier Intercommunal Alençon-Mamers (CHICAM). Patients and Methods: This was a retrospective descriptive study of the records of patients diagnosed with cardiac amyloidosis. The study took place in the cardiology department of the CHICAM over 12 months (from January 1, 2020 to December 31, 2020). We included the files of patients in whom the diagnosis of cardiac amyloidosis was confirmed on the basis of clinical, echocardiographic, biological, scintigraphic and cardiac MRI evidence. Results: Seven patients were included. The mean age was 86.71 years. Six men for one woman. Most of the patients were in heart failure. There was one case of periorbital ecchymosis. Troponinemia was increased in three patients, NTproBNP was always high with a mean of 1000 ng/L. Cardiac echography showed a hyperbright septum in four cases, concentric hypertrophy of the left ventricle with a mean interventricular septum in diastole of 13.85 mm. Six cases were senile transthyretin amyloidosis (TTR), one case was mutated transthyretin amyloidosis (TTRm). Two cases of death were noted. Conclusion: Cardiac amyloidosis has a poor prognosis due to delayed diagnosis.

Clinical and Therapeutic Evaluation of Hypertensives According to the Practice of Ambulatory Blood Pressure Measurement (ABPM) at the Bel Air International Clinic in Conakry from January 1, 2019 to November 30, 2022

Introduction: Ambulatory Blood Pressure Measurement (ABPM) is a non- invasive examination recommended for subjects at high cardiovascular risk, and those requiring a nocturnal drop in BP such as elderly and obese subjects, those with secondary hypertension or resistant, diabetics, subjects with metabolic syndrome or sleep apnea syndrome. The objective of this study was to evaluate the contribution of ABPM in the diagnosis and evaluation of the level of control of hypertension under treatment at the Bel Air international clinic. Materials and Methods: This is a retrospective, cross-sectional and descriptive study, carried out at the Bel Air International Clinic in Conakry (Guinea) between January 2019 and November 30, 2022. It included a consecutive series of 180 consenting patients recruited through an ambulatory measurement of 24-hour blood pressure from a FUGADA brand device. Results: We collected 180 patients, with a male predominance (sex-ratio M/F = 2.46). The mean age of the patients was 48.48 ± 14.23 years. The most represented age group was that of 32 to 42 years with 50 cases (27.8%) followed by that of 43 to 52 years with 42 cases or 23.3%. The indication was for diagnostic purposes in 106 cases 58.9%, the therapeutic evaluation in 58 patients (32.2%). The examination was prescribed by a cardiologist in 98 cases (54.4%), a general practitioner in 71 cases (39.4%), a neurologist in 11 cases (6.1%). In the therapeutic evaluation, high blood pressure was controlled in 24 patients (13.3%) and uncontrolled in 34 cases (18.9%). In the diagnostic indication, high blood pressure was confirmed in 79 cases (43.9%) with a statistically significant link (Chi2 = 4.57 and p-value = 0.032). The nycthemeral mean was 187.27 ± 26.22 mmHg for systolic blood pressure (SBP) and 110.37 ± 19.06 mmHg for diastolic blood pressure (DBP), during the day, 151.64 ± 21.45 mmHg for SBP and 71.59 ± 8.67 mmHg for diastolic blood pressure. During the study 65 patients (36.1%) were identified as dippers and 115 patients (63.9%) were no-dipping. The antihypertensive protocol used was monotherapy in 68 cases (37.8%), dual therapy in 46 cases (25.6%), triple therapy in 17 cases (9.4%). However 39 patients or 21.7% were not taking any antihypertensive. Conclusion: This preliminary study, despite the modest sample size, showed the importance of ABPM as a tool for diagnosis, monitoring of hypertensive patients and therapeutic adaptation. A large-scale national study would be necessary for the rational use of ambulatory blood pressure measurement in our context in order to improve the management of hypertensive patients.