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.

Ebstein Anomaly: A Clinical Case Series among Adolescents in Guinea

Ebstein’s anomaly is a rare congenital heart disease. We report a series of 4 cases of Ebstein’s anomaly discovered in adolescents. The mean age was 13.75 ± 0.96, with 3 boys and one girl. Three were in heart failure. The EKG showed atrial hypertrophy (1 case), right bundle branch block (1 case), Wolff-Parkinson-White (1 case), and atrial fibrillation (1 case). Cardiomegaly was present in all patients with a mean cardiothoracic index of 0.77 ± 0.03. On echocardiography, the mean apical displacement of the tricuspid septal leaflet was 22.5 ± 3.30 mm/m2, the Celermajer index was Grade 2 in 2 patients and Grade 4 in 2 patients. Depletive medical treatment was prescribed to 3 patients. Anticoagulant therapy was initiated in one patient. Two are awaiting surgery. One death was recorded, it was at Grade 4 of the Celermajer index.

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.

Myocardial Perfusion Abnormalities in Patients with Hereditary Hypertrophic Cardiomyopathy: A Study of Three Cases and Review of the Literature

Introduction: Hypertrophic cardiomyopathy (HCM) belongs to the very heterogeneous group of cardiomyopathies. This study aimed to study myocardial perfusion abnormalities on scintigraphy and assess the risk of sudden death from ventricular arrhythmia in hereditary sarcomeric HCM. Patients and Methods: This is a retrospective and prospective descriptive study over 18 months (January 01, 2021, to July 31, 2022) on the records of patients over 18 with the diagnosis of hypertrophic sarcomeric cardiomyopathy with or without ventricular rhythm disorders and who have undergone myocardial scintigraphy. Results: Three patients were included. The average age of our patients was 66 years old. Dyspnea is the primary symptomatology found in our patients. One patient presented with syncope and unsustained ventricular tachycardia. His risk score for sudden death from ESC at five years is estimated at 6.45%, and the patient received an ICD in primary prevention. The average sudden death risk score of our patients was 3.78%. The mean LV wall thickness was 20 mm. The mean maximum left intraventricular gradient was 39 mmHg. Myocardial fibrosis was present in all our patients. Myocardial scintigraphy was normal in all cases. Conclusion: Hypertrophic cardiomyopathy is a very heterogeneous group of cardiomyopathies. The rhythmic risk is multifactorial and constitutes a significant prognostic factor.

Therapeutic Education of Heart Failure: Prospective Study in the Cardiology Department of the Dalal Jamm National Hospital Center in Dakar

Context: Heart failure (HF) is a common pathology requiring many types of treatments, including therapeutic education, which has demonstrated a major benefit in terms of reducing re-hospitalization and mortality from HF or all other causes. Objective: The aim of this study was to evaluate the contribution of therapeutic education (TPE) in patients with heart failure. Methodology: This was a single-centre, interventional, non-randomized, before-and-after type study. It focused on hospitalized heart failure patients aged 18 and over. We evaluated the effect of TPE on therapeutic compliance, knowledge, practical attitudes, patient perceptions and quality of life. Results: Our study included 41 patients prior to therapeutic education: 17 men (41%) and 24 women (59%). The mean age was 54.7 ± 16.2 years. After the TPE sessions we evaluated 32 patients: The patients with good compliance increased from 75% to 90.63%, and patients with a low level of compliance (90.6%) decreased to 34.4%. An increase in the number of patients who had an attitude adapted to not exceeding the recommended amount of salt (6 before TPE and 22 after TPE), as well as in the number of patients who had an attitude adapted to physical activity (12 before TPE and 16 after TPE). There was also an increase in the number of patients who were confident about the outcome of their disease (12 before TPE and 16 after TPE), and a decrease in those who were hopeless (8 before TPE and 5 after TPE), an improvement in the quality of life score (45.03 before TPE and 15.78 after TPE). Conclusion: This study shows the beneficial effect of therapeutic education in patients hospitalized for heart failure in improving their level of knowledge, compliance with treatment, lifestyle habits and quality of life.

Dyspnea in a 26-Year-Old Woman with Fatal Left Atrial Myxoma

Cardiac myxoma is one of the primary intracardiac tumours. We report the case of a left atrial myxoma in a 26-year-old female patient admitted for investigation of dyspnoea. Echocardiography led to the diagnosis of a giant hypermobile myxoma prolapsing into the left ventricle. The patient died before being evacuated for surgical treatment.

Knowledge of Patients and Their Accompanying Persons about Obliterative Arteriopathy of the Lower Limbs at Conakry University Hospital in 2022

Introduction: Obliterative arterial disease of the lower limbs is a marker of advanced atherosclerosis. It is one of the world’s most common cardiovascular diseases, present in one in five people over the age of 60, and carries an increased risk of morbidity and mortality. The aim of this study was to assess the knowledge of patients and their carers about obliterative arteriopathy of the lower limbs at Conakry University Hospital. Material and Methods: We conducted a descriptive cross-sectional study lasting 3 months, from March 12 to June 12, 2022 in the hospitals of the University Hospital of Conakry (Donka and Ignace Deen). Following free and informed consent, they were interviewed on the basis of a pre-established questionnaire. Socio-demographic data (age, gender, level of education) were collected, and knowledge of obliterative arterial disease of the lower limbs. Results: The study involved 159 people, comprising 106 patients (66.66%) and 53 accompanying persons (33.34%) in the hospitals of the University Hospital of Conakry (Donka and Ignace Deen). The 60 to 79 age group was the most represented (44.7%), with an average age of 55.4 ± 15.9 years and extremes of 20 to 84 years. Half (47.8%) had not attended school, and almost all (96.4%) of those who had attended school had a low level of education (primary and secondary). Almost all of them (91.2%) had never heard of AOMI. Only 5% identified at least one risk factor, diabetes, hypertension and smoking. Amputation was the most frequently identified complication. About 98% did not know that AOMI is associated with myocardial infarction and stroke, and 93.7% did not know of any complications. Almost all the participants (99.4%) had poor knowledge of the following complications. Conclusion: Obliterative arterial disease of the lower limbs could be prevented or delayed by screening and controlling risk factors. Our results show a huge deficit in knowledge of this pathology, including risk factors, preventive measures, clinical signs and complications among patients and their relatives. A study conducted outside the hospital environment would provide a better understanding of the extent to which the general population is unaware of this disease.

Ruptured Sub-Annular Mitral Aneurysm in the Pericardium: Report of a Case

The sub-mitral annular aneurysm is a rare cardiac pathology. The etiologies are diverse, ranging from the congenital form to the idiopathic form, including the acquired form. The clinical case we report is that of a 27-year-old young man, with no particular history, admitted with a picture of global heart failure. A cardiac ultrasound diagnosed a ruptured mitral sub-annular aneurysm in the pericardium. The difficulty lies in the surgical management of this condition, due to the lack of an adequate cardiac surgery service in most of the countries in Africa south of the Sahara.

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.