Electrocardiographic Safety of Daily Hydroxychloroquine 400 mg Plus Azithromycin 250 mg as an Ambulatory Treatment for COVID-19 Patients in Cameroon

Objective: To determine the early electrocardiographic changes in a cohort of ambulatory cameroonian COVID-19 patients treated with hydroxychlo- roquine and Azithromycin. Design: Prospective study. Setting: Treatment centres of the city of Yaounde, Cameroon, from May 7th to 24th 2020. Participants: We enrolled 51 consecutive confirmed COVID-19 on RT-PCR who having mild forms of COVID-19 and treated by hydroxychloroquine 200 mg twice daily during seven #days plus Azithromycin 500 mg the first day and 250 mg the remaining 4 days as per national standard. Main Outcomes Measures: The primary end-point was the change in QTc interval between day 0 (D0), day 3 (D3) and day 7 (D7). Secondary endpoints were changes in all other cardiac electrical conductivity patterns and the occurrence of clinical arrhythmic events during the course of treatment. Results: The population (29 men and 22 women) was aged 39 ± 11 years (range 17 to 61 years). Mean Tisdale score was 3.35 ± 0.48. No significant change from baseline (D0) of QTc was observed at D7 (429 ± 27 ms at D0 versus 396 ± 26 ms at D7;p = 0.27). A reduction of heart rate was observed between the D0 and D7 (75 ± 13 bpm versus 70 ± 13 bpm, p = 0.02) with increased QRS duration between D0 and D7 (95 ± 10 ms versus 102 ± 17 ms, p = 0.004). No symptomatic arrhythmic events occurred during the treatment course. Conclusions: No life-threatening modification of the QT interval was observed in non-severe COVID-19 patients treated ambulatory with hydroxychloroquine and azithromycin. Studies are needed in critical-ill and older patients.

Anesthetic Management of Hepatic Resection in a Low-Resource Setting: First Bulletin from Africa

Introduction: General anesthesia and antisepsis have made intraperitoneal surgery safer. With the improvement of anesthetic techniques and the development of new surgical approaches, the liver, an organ with high haemorrhagic risks, has become the subject of many successful therapeutic indications. Although widely performed in high-income settings due to a better technical platform, the reverse is true for low-resource settings in Africa where there is little or no report on the anesthetic management of this dreadful surgery. Hence, this study is one of the first from Africa to report on the perioperative anesthetic management and outcome of hepatic resections. Methods: This was a retrospective case series study conducted over four years (2019-2022) through a chart review of all medical and anesthesia records of patients admitted to Douala General Hospital, Cameroon for hepatic resection. We collected socio-demographic, clinical, laboratory and intraoperative data, the estimated financial cost and patient outcomes. Results: Twelve open hepatic resections were performed mainly electively (11/12 cases) for localized hepatic tumours (7/12 cases) on ASA II patients (11/12 cases) with a mean age of 36.5 years and sex ratio of 1.2. Pre-anesthetic consultations were usually done within 24 days before the surgery. General anesthesia maintained with sevoflurane was the mainstay anesthetic technic. Continuous hemodynamic monitoring with an arterial catheter was done. The blood-sparing strategy was based on tranexamic acid, calcium gluconate and controlled hypotension with an intraoperative transfusion rate of 33.33%. The cost of the procedures was well above the minimum wage in Cameroon but relatively cheap compared to the cost in high-income countries. No perioperative death was recorded. Conclusion: Our hepatic resections were managed with satisfactory blood savings, low morbidity and zero perioperative mortality. Overall, this study is the first to provide data on perioperative anesthetic management and outcomes of hepatic resection in Africa.

Insulin Sensitivity and Gynaecological Features of Infertile Cameroonian Females with Polycystic Ovary Syndrome: A Cross-Sectional Study

Background: Polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS), characterized by ovulatory dysfunction, polycystic ovary(PCO),hyperandrogenism and insulin resistance is the commonest endocrine disorder in women of reproductive age. It is an intriguing pathology that involves the perpetuation of a vicious circle with reproductive, endocrine and metabolic components. We aimed to assess the reproductive features and insulin sensitivity (IS) in infertile women with or without PCOS. Materials and Methods: We carried out a cross-sectional analytic study at the outpatient Obstetrics and Gynaecology Department of the Yaounde Gyneco-obstetric and Pediatrics Hospital, Cameroon from September 1st 2012 to March 31st 2013 giving total study duration of 07 months. Laboratory analyses were carried out at the National Obesity Centre(NOC)of the Yaounde Central Hospital, Cameroon. Results: Overall, 36 infertile females were enrolled, which included 15 diagnosed cases of PCOS according to Rotterdam consensus meeting of 2003 and 21 non PCOS subjects as control. PCOS women were younger than non PCOS women (28.8 ± 5.5 vs. 35.0 ± 4.2 years;p = 0.0004). The majority of the women in the PCOS group were spaniomenorrheic (11/15), and ultrasonographic findings were typical of PCOS. Hirsutism score was higher in the PCOS group with a median of 9 (7 - 13). Insulin sensitivity was impaired in two-thirds of the study population, with 12 women found to be insulin resistant(6 PCOS, 6 non PCOS), 12 patients had intermediate insulin sensitivity(2 PCOS, 10 non PCOS)and 12 insulin sensitive(7 PCOS, 5 non PCOS). Apart from blood glucose levels (p = 0.007), all other anthropometric and biological parameters were not significant. Spearman’s correlation identified fasting plasma glucose and total cholesterol as factors associated with insulin sensitivity in females with PCOS. Impaired fasting glucose was observed in 13 patients with 08 from the PCOS group. Conclusion: We conclude that young age, spaniomenorrhea and hirsutism are common findings in PCOS. Furthermore, our findings suggest that PCOS may be more of systemic metabolic disease than solely a purely gynecologic disorder as described hitherto. Despite normal fasting plasma glucose levels, a good proportion of these women has impaired insulin sensitivity and it is associated with a metabolic syndrome.

Maternal and Fetal Outcomes Following Labour at Term in Singleton Pregnancies with Meconium-Stained Amniotic Fluid: A Prospective Cohort Study

Background: Meconium stained amniotic fluid (MSAF) is frequently encountered in obstetric practice. Literature on the subject is still poorly documented in the African setting. Objective: The aim of this study was to determine the maternal and fetal outcomes in case of meconium stained amniotic fluid observed during term labour. Materials and Methods: We conducted a prospective cohort study enrolling all consenting pregnant women with term singleton fetus in cephalic presentation admitted for labour with ruptured fetal membranes in the maternity units of the Yaoundé Central Hospital (YCH) and the Yaoundé Gynaeco-Obstetric and Pediatric Hospital (YGOPH) of Cameroon between December 2014 and April 2015. The exposed grouped was considered as participants having MSAF, while the non-exposed group comprised those with clear amniotic fluid (CAF). The two groups were monitored during labor using the WHO partograph, and then followed up till 72 hours after delivery. Variables studied included the colour and texture of amniotic fluid as well as maternal and fetal complications. Data was analyzed using Epi-info version 3.5.4. The chi-square and Fischer’s exact tests were appropriately used to compare the two groups. A p-value less than 5% was considered statistically significant. Results: 2376 vaginal deliveries were recorded during the study period among which MSAF was observed in 265 cases, hence a prevalence rate of MSAF of 11.15%. Among these cases of MSAF, 52.1% was thick meconium and 47.9% was light meconium. Maternal morbidity was high in the group with MSAF;these included: Higher proportions of caesarean delivery (RR = 2.35 p -4) and prolonged labor (RR = 3 p -4). In this same group, the incidences of chorioamnionitis and puerperal sepsis were low (0.94% and 0.70% respectively), although there was a three-fold higher risk that was not statistically significant (RR = 3, P = 0.31). Fetal and neonatal outcomes were poorer in the MSAF group compared to the CAF group. The complications included fetal heart rate abnormalities, low Apgar score at the 5th minute, need for neonatal resuscitation, neonatal asphyxia and neonatal infection which were significantly higher in the MSAF group (all p < 0.05). Meconium aspiration syndrome (MAS) was found in 2.34% of MSAF cases. Perinatal mortality was 2.34% and all cases of death occurred in the thick MSAF group. Conclusion: MSAF observed during labour is associated with increased perinatal morbidity and mortality. Its detection during labor should strongly indicate very rigorous intra partum and postpartum monitoring. This will ensure optimal management and reduction in the risks of complications.

Anesthetic Management of a Rare Penetrating Traumatic Brain Injury Caused by a Pickaxe: A Case Report

Penetrating traumatic brain injuries (TBI) are frequent neurosurgical emergencies, associated with a high mortality rate and we almost no previous report on a penetrating pickaxe TBI. Herein, we report and discuss the anesthetic challenges encountered in the surgical extraction a pickaxe from a patient with TBI. We present the case of a 34-year-old man who with a penetrating pickaxe TBI at his left temporal region, signs of raised intracranial pressure and normal vital signs. Anesthetic management began within 3 hours of admission and consisted of general anesthesia and rapid sequence intubation. Surgical extraction of a 14 cm long wing of the pickaxe was achieved with good hemostatic control. His postoperative course was marked by complete blindness of the right eye till one year of follow-up. The authors highlight the need of a prompt multidisciplinary management with close perioperative monitoring of haemostatic control and signs of raised intracranial pressure as key factors for a favourable postoperative outcome.

Interventional Cardiology Management of a Cardiogenic Shock Induced by Takotsubo Cardiomyopathy at the Hospital Center of Montlucon: A Case Report

Background: Takotsubo cardiomyopathy is frequently considered as a benign disorder. We present an atypical form with cardiogenic shock that was managed by interventional cardiology measures. Case presentation: A 58 years old female patient with a past history of hypertension, obesity and multiple sclerosis was admitted at the Hospital Center of Montlucon for septic shock of urinary origin. During hospitalization in intensive care unit, the patient presented a markedly increasing of troponin levels with a diffused ST-segment elevation. Transthoracic Echocardiography showed an altered left ventricular ejection fraction at 35% with hypokinesia of apex and lateral ventricular segments in conjunction with compensatory hyperkinesis of the base;these findings were strongly suggestive of a diagnosis of Takotsubo cardiomyopathy. Despite concomitant anemia, renal failure and sepsis, all adequately treated with complete remission, the patient developed frequent episodes of ventricular tachycardia that prompted an emergency coronarography. During this procedure, the patient presented a cardiogenic shock and bradyasystole that were successfully managed by intra-aortic balloon pumping and temporary transvenous pacing. Finally, there were no coronary lesions and ventriculography confirmed a Takotsubo cardiomyopathy. Given the unstable hemodynamic status of this patient, she was addressed to the University Teaching Hospital of Clermont-Ferrand for more specialized care. Conclusion: This case alerts the physician to be more vigilant when managing all patients with Takotsubo cardiomyopathy, because some cases could be fatal. In severe cases, intra-aortic balloon pumping and temporary epicardial pacing can be life-saving.

Persistent interstitial pregnancy diagnosed after two unsuccessful attempts of clandestine abortion: A case report and literature review

Dear editor,Ectopic pregnancy is a medico-surgical emergency requiring prompt diagnostic and therapeutic measures.It is defined as the implantation of the embryo outside its normal site within the endometrial cavity.1 The fallopian tube is the most common site of ectopic implantations(96%),followed by the ovary(1%),caesarean section scar(1%–3%),cervix(1%)and viscera of the abdominal cavity(1%).2 Among tubal locations,the interstitium is the least described implantation site(2.6%),whereas the ampulla,isthmus and fimbriated infundibulum have the following respective frequencies:73.3%,12.5%and 11.6%.3 Heterotopic pregnancies are extremely rare cases.