Venous Thromboembolic Disease in the Cardiology Department of the Nianakoro Fomba Hospital in Segou (HNF)

Venous thromboembolic disease (VTE) is a nosological group that consists mainly of deep vein thrombosis (DVT) and pulmonary embolism (PE). The objective of our study was to determine the hospital prevalence of VTE in this Nianakoro Fomba Regional Hospital (HNF) in Ségou, Mali, to describe the sociodemographic aspects of these patients and the therapeutic possibilities in this locality. Materials and Methods: We conducted a prospective descriptive study from June 2019 to June 2020 in the cardiology department of the HNF of Ségou. All patients of all ages and both sexes who had VTE on clinical and paraclinical criteria (pulmonary Angio scan and/or venous Doppler echo) during the study period were included. Result: 31 patients were included out of 366 hospitalized patients, with a hospital prevalence of 8.47%. The 41-60 and 61 - 80 age groups were both dominant with 35.48% of cases each. The female sex was the most represented with 58.06% of cases and a sex ratio of 0.97. High blood pressure (hypertension) was the preeminent cardiovascular risk factor in 32.2% of cases and predisposing factors for VTE were dominated by immobilization (41.94%), peripartum (16.13%) and heart failure (16.13%). Dyspnea and chest pain were the frequent reasons for consultation with 93.54% and 83.87% of cases respectively and 6 patients (19.35%) had calf pain. More than 3/4 of the patients had tachypnea or 90.32% and tachycardia in nearly 74.19%. The clinical probability of VTE was intermediate at 51.61% according to the Wells score. D-Dimers were elevated in 38.70%, or all 12 patients who performed it. The electrocardiogram (ECG) recorded a sinus rhythm in 93.54% of cases, a right branch block and atrial fibrillation (AF) in 35.48% and 6.45% of cases, respectively. Dilation of the right ventricle was present in 64.51% of cases with PAH in 61.29% on cardiac Doppler ultrasound. In the majority of cases (82.15%) it was a massive bilateral proximal and distal pulmonary embolism. Treatment was based on low molecular weight heparin (HPBM) and antivitamin K (AVK) in all patients (100%). No bleeding incidents;the average hospital stay was 10 days and an intra-hospital mortality rate of 29%.

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.

Venous Thromboembolic Disease and Thrombolysis at the YaoundéEmergency Center during the Past Five Years, Cameroon

Background: Venous thromboembolic disease (VTE) is a clinical entity whose two clinical manifestations are deep vein thrombosis (DVT) and pulmonary embolism (PE). It is a frequent and severe disease in Cameroon, thus constituting a significant public health problem. We aimed to describe VTE management in the Yaoundé Emergency Center, in particular the use of thrombolysis. Methods: This was a retrospective study on patients hospitalized at the Yaoundé Emergency Center for DVT and/or PE from January 1, 2015, to December 31, 2020. We collected clinical signs, paraclinical signs, risk factors of VTE, and management methods from each patient. Results: We recruited 106 participants. Dyspnea was the most frequent symptom;PE was the most common form of VTE in eight patients on 10. Obesity and high blood pressure were the main cardiovascular risk factors. The main clinical signs were oedema and pain in the limb for DVT, dyspnea, and tachycardia for PE. Heparinotherapy was the most commonly used management modality. Thrombolysis was performed in 7.5% of participants, especially in the case of hypotension or massive PE. Conclusion: In VTE management, thrombolysis remains the least used therapeutic modality in our context. Heparinotherapy remains the basis of the therapy.

Treatment and Clinical Management of Chronic Thromboembolic Pulmonary Hypertension:An Update of Literature Review

Chronic thromboembolic pulmonary hypertension(CTEPH)is a chronic,progressive,debilitating,and life-threa-tening complication of pulmonary embolism(PE).Recent technological advances have permitted various treat-ment options for the treatment of CTEPH,including surgery,angioplasty,and medical treatment,depending on the location and characteristics of lesions.Pulmonary endarterectomy(PEA)is the treatment of choice for CTEPH,as it offers excellent long-term outcomes and a high probability of recovery.Moreover,various medical and interventional therapies are currently being developed for patients with inoperable CTEPH.This review mainly summarizes the current treatment approaches of CTEPH,offering more options for specialist physicians to,thus,better manage chronic thromboembolic syndromes.

Confirmed Thromboembolic Venous Disease and Clinical Probability Scores: A Transversal Study about 74 Cases Collected in the Cardiology Department of the Aristide Le Dantec University Hospital Center of Dakar

Introduction: Venous thromboembolic disease (VTED), associating deep vein thrombosis and pulmonary embolism, represents a major public health issue. The objective of our work is to correlate confirmed VTED with clinical probability scores using elements of interview and clinical examination. Methods: This was a retrospective study from January 1, 2012 to October 27, 2013. Venous thromboembolic disease was diagnosed by lower limb venous Doppler ultrasound for deep vein thrombosis and thoracic CT angiography for pulmonary embolism. Results: Our series included 74 cases of venous thromboembolic disease including 42 cases of deep vein thrombosis and 29 cases of pulmonary embolism. The average age was 48.5 ± 15.9 years. The sex ratio was 0.72. The patients came from the outpatient clinic in 67.57% of cases. The Wells score for pulmonary embolism showed excellent performance in the “Surgery/Cancer” subgroup where the low probability was zero. The revised Geneva score for pulmonary embolism, showing the same proportions of low (14.2%) and intermediate (85.7%) probability, did not discriminate the subgroup of patients with underlying heart disease from the one from a surgical or carcinological environment. Conclusion: Clinical probability scores are more suitable in surgical and oncological settings than in medical settings.

Safety of tranexamic acid in surgically treated isolated spine trauma

BACKGROUND Tranexamic acid(TXA),a synthetic antifibrinolytic drug,effectively reduces blood loss by inhibiting plasmin-induced fibrin breakdown.This is the first study in the United Kingdom to investigate the effectiveness of TXA in the surgical management of isolated spine trauma.AIM To assess the safety of TXA in isolated spine trauma.The primary and secondary outcomes are to assess the rate of thromboembolic events and to evaluate blood loss and the incidence of blood transfusion,respectively.METHODS This prospective observational study included patients aged≥17 years with isolated spine trauma requiring surgical intervention over a 6-month period at two major trauma centers in the United Kingdom.RESULTS We identified 67 patients:26(39%)and 41(61%)received and did not receive TXA,respectively.Both groups were matched in terms of age,gender,American Society of Anesthesiologists grade,and mechanism of injury.A higher proportion of patients who received TXA had a subaxial cervical spine injury classification or thoracolumbar injury classification score>4(74%vs 56%).All patients in the TXA group underwent an open approach with a mean of 5 spinal levels involved and an average operative time of 203 min,compared with 24 patients(58%)in the non TXA group who underwent an open approach with an average of 3 spinal levels involved and a mean operative time of 159 min.Among patients who received TXA,blood loss was<150 and 150–300 mL in 8(31%)and 15(58%)patients,respectively.There were no cases of thromboembolic events in any patient who received TXA.CONCLUSION Our study demonstrated that TXA is safe for isolated spine trauma.It is challenging to determine whether TXA effectively reduces blood loss because most surgeons prefer TXA for open or multilevel cases.Further,larger studies are necessary to explore the rate,dosage,and mode of administration of TXA.

Role of pulmonary perfusion magnetic resonance imaging for the diagnosis of pulmonary hypertension:A review

Among five types of pulmonary hypertension,chronic thromboembolic pulmonary hypertension(CTEPH)is the only curable form,but prompt and accurate diagnosis can be challenging.Computed tomography and nuclear medicine-based techniques are standard imaging modalities to non-invasively diagnose CTEPH,however these are limited by radiation exposure,subjective qualitative bias,and lack of cardiac functional assessment.This review aims to assess the methodology,diagnostic accuracy of pulmonary perfusion imaging in the current literature and discuss its advantages,limitations and future research scope.

Coronavirus disease 2019(COVID-19)and priapism:An unexplored association

Background:Coronavirus disease 2019(COVID-19)has an established impact on multiple organ systems,including the vascular and urogenital systems.Vascular effects may include venous thromboembolic disease,which could theoretically be a precursor to priapism—a urological emergency defined as an abnormal condition of prolonged penile erection lasting>4 hours.To better explore this association,we critically appraised all the published COVID-19 cases associated with priapism.Materials and methods:After PROSPERO registration(CRD42021245257),a systematic search of Google Scholar,Scopus,Embase,Web of Science,PubMed,Cumulative Index to Nursing and Allied Health Literature,Global Index Medicus,and Cochrane Database of Systematic Reviews was performed using specific search terms.The following study metadata were extracted:age,requirement for respiratory support,cavernous blood gas findings,management of priapism,and patient outcomes.Results:Fifteen single-patient case reports were included in this review.Of these,all of the patients presented with ischemic priapism,9 patients(60.0%)were>60years of age,4(26.7%)reported more than a single episode of priapism,11(73.3%)presented with pneumonia,8(53.3%)required mechanical ventilation,D-dimer was elevated in 5 of the 6(83.3%)patients in whom this was reported,and among the 13 patients in whom mortality was reported,4(30.8%)died.Conclusions:Early reports suggest a prognostic relationship between COVID-19 and coexisting priapism.However,owing to commonalities in their pathophysiology and the small dataset reported in the literature,the probable association between COVID-19 and priapism is still theoretical.Further research is needed to confirm this association.