Estimation of the Direct Cost of Management of Venous Thromboembolism in Three Reference Hospitals in the City of Yaoundé: A Retrospective Study over a Three-Year Period

Background: Venous thromboembolism (VTE) is a major public health problem due to its increasing frequency, mortality and management cost. This cost may require major financial efforts from patients, especially in developing countries like ours where less than 7% of the population has health insurance. This study aimed to estimate the direct cost of managing VTE in three reference hospitals in Yaoundé. Methods: This was a cross-sectional retrospective study over a three-year period (from January 1st 2018 to December 31 2020) carried out in the Cardiology departments of the Central and General Hospitals, and the Emergency Centre of the city of Yaoundé. All patients managed during the study period for deep vein thrombosis and pulmonary embolism confirmed by venous ultrasound coupled with Doppler and computed tomography pulmonary angiography respectively were included. For each patient, we collected sociodemographic and clinical data as well as data on the cost of consultation, hospital stay, workups and medications. These data were analysed using SPSS version 23.0. Results: A total of 92 patient’s records were analysed. The median age was 60 years [48 - 68] with a sex ratio of 0.53. The median direct cost of management of venous thromboembolism was 766,375 CFAF [536,455 - 1,029,745] or $1415 USD. Management of pulmonary embolism associated with deep vein thrombosis was more costly than isolated pulmonary embolism or deep vein thrombosis. Factors influencing the direct cost of management of venous thromboembolism were: hospital structure (p = 0.015), health insurance (p 0.001), type of pulmonary embolism (p = 0.021), and length of hospital stay (p = 0.001). Conclusion: Management of VTE is a major financial burden for our patients and this burden is influenced by the hospital structure, health insurance, type of pulmonary embolism and length of hospital stay.

Epidemiological Profile of Obesity among Health Staff at the YaoundéCentral Hospital and at the YaoundéUniversity Teaching Hospital

Background: Obesity is a real pandemic and with ever increasing prevalence. Health professionals play a vital role in the fight against this condition. They are also affected by obesity and could be even more affected than the general population. These health workers sometimes have a wrong perception of their own weight which interferes with their ability to counsel their patients. The purpose of this study was to determine the prevalence and factors associated with obesity among health care workers and increase their awareness of the problem. Methodology: This was a cross-sectional study conducted at the Yaoundé Central Hospital (YCH) and the Yaoundé University Teaching Hospital (YUTH) during a 6 months period. The data were collected through a questionnaire structured according to WHO STEP wise approach to chronic disease risk factor surveillance (STEPS). We measured weight, height, waist circumference, and blood pressure according to the WHO STEPS procedure. The Chi square test and logistic regression were used to measure the association between the qualitative variables. A p value 0.05 was considered statistically significant. Results: A total of 350 health personnel participated in this study. The prevalence of obesity was 30.3%. That of abdominal obesity was 46.9%. The factors independently associated to overall obesity were age > 40 years [OR = 2.22 95% CI (1.28 - 3.87)], nursing assistant profession [OR = 2.31 95% IC (1.21 - 4.41)] and high blood pressure [OR = 3.38 95% CI (1.16 - 9.84)] and to abdominal obesity, age > 40 years [OR = 3.35 95% CI (1.96 - 5.71)], female gender [OR = 5.47 95% CI (2.95 - 10.14)], marriage [OR = 1.84 95% CI (1.08 - 3.14)], and High blood pressure [OR = 3.76 95% CI (1.01 - 13.94)]. Conclusion: Obesity is very common among YCH and YUTH staff. Staff awareness and the introduction of proper lifestyle promotion programs are more than ever needed to win the fight against obesity.

Evaluation of the Functional Capacity of a Group of Patients Aged over 65 Years: A Cross-Sectional Study at the YaoundéCentral Hospital

Background: The functional capacity of elderly patients decreases with age due to a combination of age-related decline in physiologic functions and chronic diseases. A severe decrease leads to an inability to carry out activities of daily living leading to a loss of autonomy and increased dependence. The aim of this study was to evaluate the functional capacity of the elderly followed at the Yaoundé Central Hospital. Methods: We carried out a non-probabilistic consecutive sampling of elderly patients that consulted in Yaoundé Central Hospital during a five-month’ period. Data was taken concerning their chronic conditions, use of medication, and presence of depressive symptoms (evaluated using the Geriatric Depression Scale (GDS) questionnaire). The presence of any cognitive impairment was evaluated using the Mini-Mental State Examination (MMSE). Cardiac ultrasonography and electrocardiograms were done to evaluate the cardiac morphology and physiology. Their functional capacity was assessed with the WHO Global Physical Activity Questionnaire and the six-minute walk test. A self-paced step test was equally done to estimate the maximum oxygen consumption during aerobic exercise. We carried out aunivariate, and then multivariate analyses to identify factors associated with an altered functional status. Statistical analysis was performed using the SPSS software 23.0. The threshold of significance was set at 0.05. Results: 66 participants were included (35 women) with a median age of 70 (IQR: 67 - 75) years. Among them, 39.4% were found to have an altered functional capacity, about 87.8% had at least one chronic condition and 47% had two or more. The most prevalent chronic condition was hypertension (71.2%) followed by heart failure (24.2%) and osteoarthritis (12.1%). Mild depressive symptoms were present in 1.5% of our study population. The factors associated with an altered functional capacity include age ≥ 75 years (OR = 2.9 p heart failure (OR: 3.2, p ), osteoarthritis (OR: 5.1, p ), and poor gait and balance (OR: 3.7, p ). Conclusion: There is a high prevalence of altered functional capacity among elderly patients consulting at the Yaoundé Central Hospital. Heart failure, osteoarthritis, and an increased risk of falls are associated with an altered functional capacity.

Circadian Rhythm of Childbirths and Maternal and Neonatal Prognosis at the YaoundéCentral Hospital

Background: The circadian variation of childbirths has been described by several authors around the globe. De Graaf showed that hospital childbirths at night were associated with increased perinatal mortality and adverse perinatal outcome. To improve obstetric care, we carried out this study to evaluate the circadian rhythm of childbirths and to assess the outcome following variations in the time of childbirths during the day. Methods: It was a cross-sectional descriptive study at the Yaoundé Central Hospital (YCH), over a two years period. We collected data from files of women who delivered from the 1st of January 2017 to 31st December 2018. We included files of women who delivered at least at 28 weeks of pregnancy. We excluded files of those who delivered by elective caesarean section, those whose hour of delivery was not noted and those who delivered before reaching the hospital. Sociodemographic, obstetrical characteristics, and immediate prognosis were recorded. Data were entered into excel, then analysed with SPSS v23 software. Tools used to appreciate our results were means, median, number, percentage, P, and OR with its 95% confidence interval. The difference in p is significant if p is less than 5%. Results: We analyzed 6041 files bearing the time of birth. Childbirths took place at all hours of the day, but the times of the day where the highest numbers of births were recorded were 10, 11, 12, 13 (that’s 1pm), 14 (that’s 2 pm), 15 (that’s 3 pm), 16 (that’s 4 pm), 17 (that’s 5 pm) and 23 (that’s 11 pm) hours, with respectively 224 (3.7%), 277 (4.6%), 256 (4.2%), 265 (4.4%), 207 (3.4%), 255 (4.2%), 228 (3.8%), 216 (3.6%) and 226 (3.7%) births. The peak of births was at 11 am while the time of day where the lowest number of births was recorded was 6 pm, with 175 (2.9%) births. The mean age of participants was 27.34 ± 6.03 years with extremes of 13 and 49, with 87.6% between 20 to 39 years. Sociodemographic characteristics of participants, prematurity and bleeding during delivery, had no dependence on the time of delivery. Perineal tear, duration of observation, Apgar score of the newborn, birthweight, delivery mode, health personnel who performed the delivery, and episiotomyseemed to be influenced by the time of delivery. Daily shifts were not independently associated with the poor Apgar score (0 - 6) at 5 mins, when adjusted for all other factors (p = 0.109). Conclusion: Childbirths were more frequent between 10 am and 5 pm. The period where episiotomy was most performed is the same as when there was macrosomia childbirth. Tears of the perineum are more frequent between 2 pm and 10 pm. There was no independent association between Daily shifts and poor Apgar score. The poor APGAR score would be more related to low birth weight.

Outcomes and Quality of Life of Patients with a Digestive Stoma in Sub-Saharan Africa: Case of the Yaounde Central Hospital, Cameroon

Introduction: The installation of a digestive stoma involves changes affecting all aspects of the patients’ lives. The objective of this study was to determine the impact of a digestive stoma on the quality of life of patients operated on at the Yaounde Central Hospital (YCH). Patients and Methodology: We conducted a prospective descriptive study over a period of 12 months from June 2018 to May 2019 in all patients with a digestive stoma for at least 3 months operated on at the YCH. The follow-up was done within 12 months. Quality of life was assessed using the stoma QOL (quality of life) and self-image using the BIS (Body Image Scale). Results: We collected a total of 34 patients, of whom 22 were male, giving an M/F sex ratio of 1.8. The average age of the patients was 42.8 years. The indications were tumoral in 44.11% of cases (n = 15) and non-tumoral in 55.88% of cases (n = 19). The colon was the most frequently ablated organ (n = 26) with 76.5% of colostomies. The complication rate was 67.6%. Stomal oedema was the most common early complication with 38.2% of cases. All patients used colostomy bags. The average time to return to sexual activity was 8 months for men and 9 months for women. 85.3% of the patients had an average impairment of quality of life according to the Stoma Quality of Life Scale. According to the Body Image Scale, 73.5% of the patients had a moderate dissatisfaction with their self-image. Conclusion: The realization of a digestive stoma imposes a long-term follow-up especially on the psychological level in order to allow the empowerment of the patients who all have a modification of their quality of life and their self-image.

Maternal and Foetal Outcomes Associated with Caesarean Deliveries in Patients with Severe Preeclampsia in Two Teaching Hospitals, Yaoundé

Introduction: Severe preeclampsia is a frequent cause of maternal death, and also a frequent indication for caesarean deliveries when faced with the need to expedite delivery. We sought complications specific to caesarean deliveries in patients with severe preeclampsia. Methods: It was a case-control study carried out over 6 months, from December 1st, 2015 to May 31st, 2016 at the Yaoundé Central and the Yaoundé Gynaeco-Obstetric and Paediatric Hospitals. We evaluated 159 women undergoing a caesarean delivery to assess the risk of maternal and foetal postoperative complications in patients with severe preeclampsia. Significance level was set at 0.05. Results: The incidence of postoperative complications stood at 26.4%. Maternal and foetal complications were more frequent in preeclamptic women at 54.5% versus 11.5% (p < 0.05) and 47.3% versus 27.9% (p < 0.05) respectively. The incidence of adverse events was greater in women with preeclampsia: pruritus and limb pain (RR = 2.96;p < 0.001), the persistence of high blood pressure (RR = 4.51, p < 0.001), maternal death (RR = 2.93, p < 0.001), postpartum convulsions (RR = 3, p < 0.001) headaches resistant to first-line analgesics (RR = 3, p < 0.001), Disseminated Intravascular Coagulation (DIC) (RR = 2.92, p < 0.001), a cute pulmonary oedema (RR = 2.92, p < 0.001), prematurity (RR = 4.43, p < 0.001), neonatal asphyxia (RR = 2.93, p < 0.001), and hyaline membrane disease (RR = 2.93, p Conclusion: Severe preeclampsia is associated with an increased risk of postoperative complications.

Diagnostic Value of the Thoracic Ultrasonography Compared to Conventional Chest X-Rays in Pneumonia for Children between 0 to 15 Years: Case Study in Two Hospitals in Yaoundé

Introduction: The diagnosis of pneumonia is usually made based on clinical manifestations and chest X-ray. The use of ultrasound in detecting pulmonary diseases in general, and especially consolidation syndrome has been demonstrated. The objective of this study was to determine the accuracy of thoracic ultrasound compared to chest X-ray in the diagnosis of infectious pneumonia in children. Methods: Children between 0 to 15 years were included in our study. The lung ultrasound results obtained were compared with those of the chest X-ray used as the reference. Our data were introduced into the EpiInfo 3.5.4 software and analyzed with the EpiInfo 3.5.4 and IBMSPSS Statistics version 20.0 softwares. Microsoft Office Excel 2016 was used to produce Charts. Continuous quantitative variables were presented. Cohen’s Kappa concordance test was applied with confidence interval of 95%. Results: 52 children were enrolled in the study. In imaging, the dominant sign was consolidation syndrome (75.0%) of cases by chest radiography, and in 78.8% of cases by lung ultrasound (p Conclusion: Our study demonstrated that lung echography is a non-ionizing and reliable tool in the diagnosis of childhood’s pneumonia.

Evaluation of the Implementation of the WHO’s 2010 Guide on Prevention of Mother To-Child Transmission (PMTCT) of HIV/Aids: Case of Two Hospitals in Yaoundé

Introduction: The prevalence of HIV infection amongst pregnant women in Cameroon is 5.6%. Mother-to-child transmission is a major expansion factor. In 2010, Cameroon adopted new strategies pegged to WHO guidelines. Objectives: The objective of this study was to evaluate the implementation of the new guidelines of prevention of mother to-child transmission (PMTCT) of HIV in the Yaoundé Central Hospital and the Yaoundé Teaching Hospital. Methodology: It was a cross sectional descriptive and prospective study over a period of 6 months in Yaoundé. It included all HIV-positive women, doing their antenatal care in the above cited hospitals, and having given their consent. The studied variables included socio demographic features, obstetrical history, the antenatal care, the initiation of anti retroviral (ARV) drugs, the ARV regimen, the number of years on ARV drugs, the mode of delivery and the mother and child outcome. The data was collected using a pre-tested questionnaire. They were obtained by interview of the seropositive pregnant women. Data were analysed using Epi info 3.5.3. Results: We performed 3104 antenatal consultations and 287 women were recruited in the study. The prevalence of HIV infection was 9.24%. The mean age of women was 28.77 (SD: 5.13) years. The women were aged between 20 and 29 years in 51.20%. Amongst the 156 women who knew their status before pregnancy, 109 (70.50%) had their first ANC in the first trimester. All were managed according to the 2010 WHO recommendations on PMTCT of HIV. Amongst the women unaware of their status, 25.20% had their booking ANC in the first trimester, 25.14% started ARVs at 14 weeks, 69.46% at 28 weeks. We had 125 live births, 84.8% by vaginal route, neonatal prophylaxis in all babies was effective. Conclusion: PMTCT of HIV is available and guidelines are well applied in Yaoundé. Late treatment initiation still remains a problem to optimize care.

Unmet Needs for Family Planning among Adolescent Girls Giving Birth in Three Teaching Hospitals in Yaoundé

Many adolescent girls are pressured into having sex at an early age, which puts them at high risk of unwanted pregnancies and unsafe abortions. The overall objective of this study was to evaluate the unmet needs of adolescents who give birth. A descriptive cross-sectional study was carried out in three university hospitals in Yaoundé, Cameroon: Yaoundé Central Hospital, Yaoundé Gyneco-Obstetrics and Pediatric Hospital and the District Hospital of Biyem-Assi, from February 1, 2020 to June 30, 2020. Included were any teenage mothers speaking English or French. Data were entered using CSPRO 7.3, analyzed by Excel 2010 and SPSS version 23.0. The tools used to express our results were the number, the frequency, the mean, the odds ratio (OR) and the P. P was significant if less than 5%. Of a total of 2692 births recorded, 188 (7%) were from adolescents. Of these, 157 fulfilling our selection criteria were recruited and data analyzed. The average age of the participants was 17.9 ± 1.12 years with extremes of 13 and 19, the average parity was 1.2 ± 0.4 with extremes of 1 and 3. Out of 157 participants, 2 who fell in the age range of 10 to 14 years (100%) and 106 of 155 (68.4%) whose age ranged from 15 to 19 years had unmet need for family planning. Only unmarried participants had unmet needs after multivariate analysis [aOR 2.4 (1.1 - 5.3);p = 0.035)]. Being unmarried was independently associated with the occurrence of unmet needs. The intensification of campaigns for provider behavior changes communication and the creation of services dedicated to the sexual and reproductive health of adolescents would help to reduce the rate of unmet needs for family planning among adolescent girls.

Prevalence and Correlates of Macrovascular Complications at Type 2 Diabetes Diagnosis in a Tertiary Hospital in Yaoundé, Cameroon

Introduction: The presence of vascular complications at type 2 diabetes (T2D) diagnosis is a heavy burden for developing countries. We aimed to determine the prevalence and correlates of macrovascular complications at T2D diagnosis in Yaoundé, Cameroon. Materials and Methods: We conducted a cross-sectional study at the Essos Hospital Center in Yaoundé from January 2017 to June 2021. We recruited patients newly diagnosed with T2D who, simultaneously, with assessed macrovascular complications including stroke, myocardial infarction (MI) and arterial foot ulcer (AFU). Correlates were investigated using Chi square test and logistic regressions. The significance level was set at 5%. Results: In all, 286 newly diagnosed diabetic patients (51.7% being men) were included. The mean age was 52.6 ± 12.3 years. Prevalent cardiovascular risk factors at diabetes diagnosis were a dyslipidemia (63.6%), sedentary lifestyle (57.7%) and family history of type 2 diabetes (51.6%). The prevalence of macrovascular complications was 17.5% with 8.4% stroke, 5.6% myocardial infarction and 3.4% arterial foot ulcer. Hypertension was associated with all macrovascular complications (p Conclusion: Macrovascular complications are frequent at type 2 diabetes diagnosis and are represented by stroke and myocardial infarction in our study, highlighting the importance of cardiovascular risk evaluation and reduction in people with diabetes right from diagnosis.

Stroke Epidemiology in Douala: Three Years Prospective Study in a Teaching Hospital in Cameroon

Background and Objectives: Cerebro-vascular accident or stroke constitutes a major challenge in sub-Saharan Africa. In Cameroon, basic epidemiologic data are not routinely available. Aims: The aim of this study was to determine the type, the associated risk factors, time to admission, the clinical presentation and the case fatality of stroke at the Douala General Hospital (DGH) in Cameroon. Methods: A cross-sectional study was performed from January 1, 2010 to December 31, 2012 at the neurology and intensive care units of the DGH. All patients above 15 years of age with a diagnosis of established stroke were enrolled. For each patient, socio-demographic, clinical and paraclinical data were recorded as well as the duration of hospitalization and the case fatality. Results: In all, 325 patients were enrolled with males constituting 68.1% and general mean age of 58.66 ± 13.6 years. The mean initial consultation delay was 47.36 ± 18.48 hours. The majors cerebro-vascular risk factors were hypertension (81.15%), chronic alcohol consumption (28.3%), diabetes mellitus (20.61%), obesity (18.15%), cigarette smoking (16%), dyslipidemia (8.9%) and atrial fibrillation (3.07%). Ischemic stroke accounted for 52% of cases while 48% were hemorrhagic. The mean duration of hospitalization was 8.58 ± 6.35 days with a case fatality rate of 26.8%. Septic conditions appeared to be the leading cause of death accounting for 35.6% of cases. Conclusion: Stroke in the DGH is associated with a high case fatality rate and hypertension remains the number one risk factor. There is a clear and urgent need for public health authorities to reinforce measures for the control of modifiable stroke risk factors.

Epidemiologic Profile of Maternal Deaths in Two Referral Hospitals in Cameroon

Introduction: Our objective was to compare the epidemiologic profile of maternal mortality in two structures serving as referral levels of care in Cameroon. Methodology: This cross-sectional, comparative study took place at the maternities of the Yaoundé Central Hospital (YCH) and the Bamenda Regional Hospital (BRH) from December 1st 2014 to May 31st 2015, a 6 months’ period. The medical records of deceased women over 5 years, from January 2010 to December 2014, were collected. We calculated the MMR (Maternal mortality rate) and studied the causes and risk factors associated with maternal death. The Epi info software 3.5.4 was used to analyze data with a significance level of P < 0.05. Results: The maternal mortality ratio (MMR) was 964 and 247 per 100,000 live births for YCH and BRH, respectively. More deaths occurred within the aged group range 20 to 34 years, 76.8% at YCH and 64.7% at BRH. At YCH, 70.7% of these patients were referrals versus 32.4% at BRH. Complication from abortion was often implicated at BRH (P = 0.007;OR = 0.31;CI = 0.13 - 0.74). Others causes were hemorrhage (YCH = 43.4%;BRH = 35.5%), hypertensive diseases (YCH = 17.2%;BRH = 14.7%) and infections (YCH = 8.1%;BRH = 17.6%). At YCH time elapsed from admission to death was <3 h (P = 0.005;OR = 6.63;CI = 1.49 - 29.5). Conclusion: Both hospitals have similar causes of maternal deaths, differing only in the context within which the deaths occurred. Improving access to good quality health care, satisfying unmet needs for family planning, availability of blood products and the establishment of health insurance could decrease the maternal mortality rate.

Evaluation of Oxidative Status of Patients with Gout Attack in a Cameroonian Urban Hospital

Background: Gout is the leading cause of microcrystalline arthritis worldwide and the most common cause of arthritis in adult men. The prevalence of cardiovascular disease, type II diabetes and metabolic syndrome is high among gout patients;one of the current hypotheses that may explain this relationship is based on oxidative stress;however, few studies have sought to investigate this relationship. Objective: The aim of this study was to determine the oxidative status of patients with gout attack. Methods: We conducted a case-control study over a 4 months period at the Rheumatology service of the Yaoundé Central Hospital. Cases were patients with an acute gout attack and controls were healthy subjects matched for sex and age. We evaluated uricemia, serum levels of Superoxide Dismutase (SOD), Glutathione Peroxidase (GPx), Catalase and Malondialdehyde (MDA). Oxidative stress was defined by an increase in MDA and/or a decrease in SOD, Catalase and GPx. Statistical analysis was performed by the S.P.S.S. 21.0 software. The Student’s T-test was used to compare means;the significance threshold was 0.05. Results: Sixty subjects were recruited of which 30 with an acute gout attack and 30 healthy subjects. The mean ages of the cases and controls were respectively 58 ± 8 years and 57.6 ± 8 years. Uricemia was statistically higher in cases (81 ± 20 mg/L) compared to controls (47 ± 11 mg/L) (p < 0.001). MDA levels were higher among cases (1.37 ± 0.46 mmol/L) compared to controls (1.14 ± 0.39 mmol/L) (p < 0.05). There was no significant difference in serum levels of catalase, SOD and GPx between cases and controls. Conclusion: Patients with gout attack have an elevated serum level of malondialdehyde but their oxidative status seems similar to that of normal individuals.

Epidemiological, Clinical and Therapeutic Patterns of Venous Thromboembolic Disease in Cancer Patients Followed up in Two Reference Hospitals in Cameroon

Background: Cancer increases the incidence of venous thromboembolic disease (VTE), which represents a significant cause of morbidity, mortality, and economic burden in cancer patients. Objective: We aimed to describe the epidemiologic, clinical, and therapeutic pattern of VTE in cancer patients followed-up in two reference hospitals in Cameroon over the past ten years. Methods: This was a cross-sectional retrospective study conducted in the oncology department of the General hospitals of Yaoundé and Douala. We included the medical records of all patients aged 18 years and above who had active cancer with a confirmed diagnosis of VTE from 2010 to 2021. Results: We analysed 408 patients’ medical records. The prevalence of VTE was 7.6%. All those having VTE had solid tumours. There were twenty (64.5%) cases of deep venous thrombosis, five (16.1%) cases of pulmonary embolism, and three (9.7%) cases of both. Poor performance status and chemotherapy were independently associated with the development of VTE. Most of the patients were treated with compression stockings and low molecular weight heparin. Conclusion: VTE prevalence is high among cancer patients in Cameroon. It is most frequent in solid tumours originating from the genitourinary system, the lung, the pancreas, and the brain.

Internal Lateral Sphincterotomy in Yaounde: Comparative Short-Term Results of Open versus Closed Techniques

Background: Chronic anal fissure is a benign disorder which is associated with considerable discomfort. Aim of the Work: The aim of this study was to compare the post-operative results of open and closed internal lateral sphincterotomies in the short and medium term. Patient and Methods: We carried out a prospective randomized comparative study in the digestive and visceral surgery departments of Central Hospital of Yaounde over a period of 15 months. Patients were evaluated for each technique by several variables, including duration of surgery, post-operative pain, recurrence, surgical wound infection, gas and/or stool incontinence, and healing time with follow-up up to 12 months postoperatively. Results: A total of 63 patients underwent surgery within them we had 32 open lateral internal sphincterotomies (group 1) and 31 closed lateral internal sphincterotomies (group 2). There were 35 men and 28 women with a sex ratio of 1.25. The mean age was 35.36 ± 10.16 years with extremes ranging from 19 to 62 years. The typical presentation was pain on defecation. The majority of fissures were located at the posterior commissure. The average duration of the procedure was longer in patients in group 1 (15.34 minutes) compared to 5.22 minutes in patients in group 2. We found 3.12% of surgical wound infections in patients in group 1 and neither patient in group 2. Gas incontinence was 6.45% in group 2 patients and 28.12% in group 1. The mean intensity of pain at 24 hours post-operative was between 4 and 6 on the visual analogue scale in patients in group 2 and between 7 and 10 in group 1. Wound healing time was 8.9 days in group 1 and 4 days in group 2 patients. The hospital stay was 24 hours for both groups of patients. No recurrence was noted during the 6-month follow-up period. Conclusion: Closed lateral internal anal sphincterotomy is the treatment of choice for chronic anal fissures because it is effective and associated with a lower complication rate than the open sphincterotomy technique.

Clinical, Psycho-Social and Metabolic Profile of Women with Hirsutism in Yaounde

Background: Hirsutism is a clinical situation in Cameroon which is poorly elucidated due to a paucity of clinical and biological data;hence our interest in this study. The aim of this work was to describe the clinical, psycho-social and metabolic profile of women with hirsutism in Yaoundé. Materials and Methods: This was a descriptive cross-sectional study carried out from May 2013 to December 2013. Participants were recruited by announcement through social media. Our study included women at least 18 years old, not in menopausal, not pregnant, not breastfeeding, with hirsutism regardless of severity. They were assessed through an interrogation, anthropometric parameters, a physical examination using the modified Ferriman and Gallwey score, the measurement of fasting capillary blood glucose and a lipid profile. The psycho-social assessment was carried out using a pre-designed questionnaire on the participant’s perception and daily experience with hirsutism. The metabolic syndrome was established according to the criteria of the International Diabetes Federation of 2005 and the National Cholesterol Education Program-third adult treatment panel of 2001. Results: We recruited 60 women aged 27.6 ± 7.0 years. The median Ferriman and Gallwey score was 12. The mean duration of evolution was 9 years. A family history of hirsutism was found in 88.8% of the participants, especially in the mother. Signs of virilization were found in 3.3% of the participants. Association was found between menstrual cycle abnormalities and severity of hirsutism (p = 0.023). Psycho-socially, 58.8% of women found hirsutism normal. The metabolic syndrome was found in 21.7% and 18.3% according to the IDF and NCEP-ATP III, respectively. Conclusion: Hirsutism in our context seems normal to most of our participants. It is, however, associated with menstrual irregularities, signs of virilization and metabolic syndrome. As a result, hirsutism merits further study on a large-scale with emphasis on etiology.

Materno-Foetal Morbidity in the Second Stage of Labour: A Cohort Study in Primiparous Women in Yaounde

Introduction: Prolonged Second Stage of Labor (SSL) is known to increase maternal and foetal morbidity. We, therefore, aimed to assess for the occurrence of complications of the SSL in relation to its duration in primiparous women in Yaounde. Methods: It was a cohort study carried out at the Yaounde Gynaeco-Obstetric and Paediatric Hospital over a period of 6 months, from December 19, 2018 through May 3, 2019. We included for the study nulliparous pregnant women with singleton pregnancies and normal uteri. Data collected were analysed using EPI info 7 and SPSS version 2.0 software. Results: Amongst 327 nulliparas, the SSL lasted more than one hour in 120 (36.7%), and more than two hours in 42 (12.8%). The most common maternal complications observed were genital lacerations (23.6%;28/120), instrumental deliveries (20.2%, 24/120), post-partum haemorrhage (8.9%). Foetal complications included caput succedaneum (15.2%;18/120) and perinatal asphyxia (7.5%;9/120). Maternal complications were significantly increased in women with an SSL lasting 1 - 2 hours (44.9% versus 22.7%;p < 0.001) and >2 hours (42.9% versus 22.7%;p = 0.007). Similarly, for foetal complications 23.1% occurred with SSLs between 1 - 2 hours (versus 6.3%;p < 0.001) and 19.0% for SSLs > 2 hours (versus 6.3%;p = 0.007). Conclusion: Maternal and foetal complications increase when the SSL exceeds 1 hour in primiparas. Identifying factors that predispose to a prolonged SSL and indicating appropriate interventions could help prevent morbidity.

Insulin Sensitivity of Term Newborns Exposed in Utero to HIV and Antiretrovirals in Yaoundé

Introduction: Antiretrovirals (ARVs) and the human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) are implicated in the onset of insulin resistance. They cross the placental barrier thereby inducing early modifications of the fetal environment. The aim of our study was to assess insulin sensitivity in full-term newborns exposed in utero to HIV and ARVs in Yaoundé. Materials and Methods: We conducted an analytical cross-sectional study in 2 maternities in the city of Yaoundé from November 2021 to June 2022. We generated two groups of newborns (NBs): one group born to HIV positive mothers on ARVs and the other control group born to HIV negative mothers. Clinical data from mothers and NBs were collected. A homeostatic model assessment of insulin resistance (HOMA-IR) like index with C peptide served to assess insulin sensitivity. We used the Spearman correlation to measure the strength of association between insulin sensitivity and the different variables. A p-value Results: Of 70 neonates included, 35 were born to HIV positive mothers on ARVs and 35 to HIV negative mothers. The median age of HIV positive and negative mothers was 30 (27 - 32) and 34 (24 - 47) years, respectively (p = 0.791). The body mass index before pregnancy as well as the average newborn weights were comparable in both groups. The ARV protocol associating Tenofovir, Lamivudine, Efavirenz was used by 97.1% of HIV positive mothers. In the exposed NBs group, C peptide was significantly lower (p < 0.001) and blood glucose significantly higher (p < 0.001). The median values of HOMA-IR were 1.4 (0.8 - 1.9) and 2 (1.4 - 2.6) (p = 0.001) for exposed and unexposed NBs, respectively. Conclusion: Newborns exposed to HIV and ARVs had lower C peptide levels and were more sensitive to insulin. Close metabolic monitoring of these newborns would allow early diagnosis and management of any glucose regulation disorder.

Surgical Management of Abdominal Trauma: Indications and Outcomes in Two Emergency Units with Limited Infrastructure Resources in Yaoundé(Cameroon)

Introduction: Abdominal trauma is a major public health concern. Their management is controversial and difficult. Operative indications are not codified in all situations. Patients and Methods: This was a descriptive cross- sectional study over a period of 5 years, carried out in the surgical emergency department of the Central Hospital of Yaoundé and the Emergency Centre of Yaoundé. We reviewed retrospectively medical records of patients who had laparotomy after abdominal trauma. Results: We collected 115 files. There was a male predominance (83.47%) and the average age was 33.8 years. The average time to admission was 12.3 hours and the aetiologies were dominated by road traffic accidents (53%). Abdominal contusions represented 69.56% of cases and abdominal wounds 30.44% of cases. Indications for surgery were hemodynamic instability, evidence of a lesion of a hollow viscus, the presence of evisceration or a gunshot wound, and initial non-operative treatment failure. Postoperative morbidity was 9.56% and overall mortality was 3.47%. Conclusion: Surgical management of abdominal trauma is frequent in our setting, mainly indicated for hemodynamic instability. Results are good with a low morbi-mortality.

Hematobiological Profile of Patients with Chronic Myeloid Leukemia at the Diagnosis in Yaoundé: A Cross-Sectional Study

Background: Chronic Myeloid Leukemia (CML) is a myeloproliferative blood neoplasia, characterized by the presence of a translocation between chromosomes 9 and 22 leading to the formation of the Philadelphia chromosome. Data on the biological profile of patients with CML at diagnosis are still lacking in sub-Saharan Africa, particularly in Cameroon. Methods: A cross-sectional study was carried out from January 2001 to July 2016 among patients recently diagnosed with CML at the Yaounde University Teaching Hospital, the Yaoundé Central Hospital and the Yaoundé General Hospital. Analyzed variables included socio-demographic, clinical presentation, the diagnosis means, biological parameters (hematological and biochemical). Sampling was consecutive. Results: We included 132 (76 males) patients with CML with a median age of 39.2 years at diagnosis. The 31 - 45 years age group was the most represented, with 40.9% of the study population. A risk factor was found in only 5 (3.8%) of patients. Clinical manifestations were recorded in only 27 (20.45%) patients, with fatigue being the commonest (10.6%). Almost all patients (128, 96.9%) have performed the karyotype while 22 (16.7%) have performed fluorescence in situ hybridization (FISH) and 4 (3.0%) the PCR. At diagnosis, 66% of the patients were in the chronic phase (CP), 11.3% in accelerated phase (AP), and 22.7% in blast crisis (BC). All patients presented hyperleukocytosis, with a white blood cell mean of 128,362/mm3. Anemia was common (77.3%), usually moderate (61.4%). Thrombocytopenia was rare (8.3%), as far as basophilia (1.2%). Among those patients, mean values of creatinine, Glutamic pyruvate transaminase (GPT) and glycemia were normal while activated partial thromboplastin time (APTT), prothrombin time (PT), plasma uric acid level, gamma glutamic transferase (GGT), lactate dehydrogenase (LDH), and inflammatory parameters (ESR and CRP) were increased. Conclusion: Patients with CML presented at their diagnosis hyperleukocytosis and anemia as hematological clues. Other biological anomalies include increased signs of cellular destruction (plasma uric acid level, LDH), coagulation perturbation and inflammatory syndrome. The chronic phase of the disease was common.