Pulmonary Embolism in Young Patients: About 24 Cases at the Cardiology Department of Dakar Principal Hospital in Senegal

Introduction: Pulmonary embolism is a relatively common life-threatening cardiovascular emergency. It remains a diagnostic problem because of its nonspecific clinical signs. Objective: The general objective was to study pulmonary embolism in young patients admitted to the cardiology department of Dakar Principal Hospital in Senegal. Methodology: This was a retrospective, descriptive and analytical study in the cardiology department of the Dakar Principal Hospital over a period of two (02) years from January 1, 2015 to December 31, 2016 in young patients admitted for pulmonary embolism. Results: We collected 24 patients with a hospital prevalence of 2.18%. The average age was 42.29 years ± 8.41 years with a male predominance (sex ratio of 1.6). The Wells probability score was low in 54.16% of patients and medium in 45.83%. Functional signs were dominated by chest pain (83.33% of cases) followed by dyspnea (79.16% of cases). The thromboembolic risk factors found were gynecological-obstetrical in 16.6% of cases followed by prolonged bed rest. One case of thrombophilia was present with a deficiency of protein C and antithrombin III. The electrocardiogram recorded sinus tachycardia in 29.16% of patients;the Mac Ginn White sign (S1Q3T3) was found in 25% of cases. Echocardiography showed pulmonary arterial hypertension in 12.48% of cases, dilation of the right ventricle and a paradoxical septal motion in 14.28% of cases. CT pulmonary angiography showed 63.63% of cases with bilateral pulmonary embolism;it was unilateral in 22.72% of cases. Long-term anticoagulation was based on acenocoumarol 4 mg (66.7%) and Rivaroxaban (33.3%). 62.5% of the patients were seen at the 3rd month, when a checking was made to evaluate the tolerance of the treatment, and the evolution of the patient. Conclusion: Pulmonary embolism is not a rare condition in young subjects but is often underdiagnosed. Gyneco-obstetrical factors are predominant in this age group. Direct oral anticoagulants are more and more prescribed in our countries.

Cardiac Resynchronization Therapy in Heart Failure in Sub-Saharan Africa Environment: Experience of the Principal Hospital of Dakar (Senegal)

Background: Heart failure is a major public health challenge in sub-Saharan Africa. In patients with chronic Heart Failure and cardiac desynchrony, studies have suggested that cardiac resynchronization, can improve cardiac function and the quality of life of patients. However, in Sub-Saharan Africa, very few studies have been done on cardiac resynchronization which is in its infancy. The aim of this study is to report the local data from our hospital. Method: It was a transversal, descriptive and analytical study conducted from November 2019 to September 2022 at the Cardiology Department of the Principal Hospital of Dakar. Results: Twelve patients were implanted for Cardiac Resynchronization Therapy (CRT). The sex ratio was 8 males/4 females. The average age was 67 ± 11 years. Ten patients had non-ischemic heart disease and the two others had ischemic one. All of them had NYHA III or IV scores before CRT. The Quality of Life (QOL) was judged as poor by all of the patients. The average duration of QRS was 156 ± 9 ms. 27.9% ± 5% was the mean Left Ventricular ejection fraction (LVEF). Complications occur in 3/12 patients (25%). It was one CS vein dissection, one micro LV lead dislodgement and one phrenic nerve stimulation. Nine patients, who were considered as responders, had an improvement of QOL and NYHA, the LVEF increased and the end-diastolic dimension, and the duration of the QRS interval all decreased. Two patients do not respond and one (1) who had permanent atrial fibrillation, was a secondary responder after an atrioventricular junction ablation. Conclusion: Cardiac resynchronization is a therapy that improves the QOL of patients, the LVEF and reduces the duration of the QRS interval. However, this procedure is not without risk of complications. In sub-Saharan Africa, the major challenge is to improve the financial accessibility of this therapy for the population.

Effect of topical 0.05% cyclosporine A on corneal endothelium in patients with dry eye disease

· AIM: To determine the effect of topical 0.05% cyclosporine A (CsA) on corneal endothelium in patients with dry eye disease. · METHODS: Observational, prospective, case series study. Fifty-five eyes of 29 consecutive patients (9 males and 20 females; median age: 66.8 years, interquartile range: 61 -73.2 years) with moderate -severe dry eye disease were evaluated. All patients were treated with topical 0.05% CsA ophthalmic emulsion twice a day in addition to lubricant eyedrops 5 times a day. The follow- up period was 12 months. Before treatment and at 3 and 12 months post -treatment central corneal specular microscopy was performed. The endothelial cell density (ECD), coefficient of variation of cell size (CoV), and percentage of hexagonal cells (Hex %) were analyzed. ·RESULTS: The median ECDs pre-treatment and at 3 and 12 months post-treatment were 2 352.5/mm 2 (inter- quartile range, 2 178 -2548.5), 2 364/mm 2 (interquartile range, 2 174.25 -2 657.5), and 2 366 cells/mm 2 (inter - quartile range, 2 174.75-2 539.75), respectively (P=0.927, one way ANOVA). The median CoVs pre-treatment and at 3 and 12 months post -treatment were 34.5 (interquartile range, 30 -37), 35 (interquartile range, 30 -38), and 34 (interquartile range, 30.75-38.25), respectively (P=0.7193, one way ANOVA). The median Hex % values pre - treatment and at 3 and 12 months post -treatment were 53 (interquartile range, 47 -58), 54 (interquartile range, 45.75 -59), and 50.5 (interquartile range, 45.75 -58), respectively (P=0.824, one way ANOVA). · CONCLUSION: Treatment of patients with dry eye disease for 12 months with topical 0.05% CsA does not seem to cause substantial changes on corneal endothelium.

HISTOLOGY OF THE IRIS OF EYES UN-DER CHRONIC LATANOPROST THERAPY

Purpose: To study the histology (light microscopy) of the iris of eyes under chronic therapy with latanoprost Methods: We, prospectively, analyzed 14 iris biopsies of eyes with a photographically documented increase in iris pigmentation, and 8 control eyes. Results: We found that treated irides had melanocytes with increased number of nuclear inclusions,

Cardiac MRI: Luxury or Necessity, beyond the Electrocardiogram and Biology in the Management of Acute Coronary Syndrome in Young Patients? About 2 Cases Reports in Sub-Saharan Environment

Introduction: Precordial pain is a common reason for admission in cardiology, and has many causes. Acute myocarditis in its pseudo-infarctoid form is sometimes difficult to differentiate from myocardial infarction. Cardiac magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) helps to differentiate these two disease entities. We report the respective cases of two young patients, one presenting with myocarditis whilst the other with myocardial infarction. Case Report: We present the cases of two patients. The first who had a recent history of febrile syndrome is a 23-year-old who stopped smoking 3 months prior to presentation whilst the second is a 22-year-old professional footballer with a history of stress with no other cardiovascular risk factors. They were respectively admitted in our emergency department for a constrictive, intense chest pain. Physical examination was normal. The chest pain in both patients was associated with elevated cardiac markers, primary repolarisation abnormalities on ECG, wall motion abnormalities as well as left ventricular systolic dysfunction on transthoracic echocardiography. Coronary angiograms were normal in both patients. In the first patient, MRI concluded with an acute myocarditis with apical akinesia extending to the anterior wall, a T2 hypersignal indicative of myocardial edema, and uptake of a nodular heterogeneous contrast without affecting the sub-endocardial layers on the late enhancement sequences. In the second patient, MRI showed an appearance consistent with acute extensive infarction in the antero-apical region with severe hypokinesia and late quasi-transmural enhancement, impairment of the anterior papillary muscle of the mitral valve and a reduced left ventricular ejection fraction at 33%. In addition to analgesics, the first patient was treated with perindopril and bisoprolol, and the second patient received antithrombotic and anticoagulant treatment. There was clinical improvement in both patients. Conclusion: Cardiac MRI is a useful diagnostic tool for the precise diagnosis of precordial pain with elevated cardiac enzymes, especially in young patients.

Conservative Approach Might Be the Strategy by Default in Stable Angina Patients: A Case Report

Management of stable angina is still a matter of debate. Whether a conservative or invasive approach is better remains unclear. Even though recent large-scale randomized trials depict the conservative strategy as safe and efficient. In this report, we present a case of a 53-year-old male patient with cardiovascular risk factors of hypertension and hypercholesterolemia. He complained about typical chest pain at exertion. The coronary angiogram (CA) revealed severe stenosis of the proximal left anterior descending artery (LAD) ostium. After heart team discussion, coronary artery bypass graft (CABG) was advocated. However, due to a lack of means, the CABG was postponed. Meanwhile, he was managed with guideline-based medical therapy. In addition, he exercised regularly and adopted a healthy diet. Evolution was favorable with excellent symptoms control. A regular follow-up was organized with his cardiologist. A new CA before an eventual CABG six years later showed a significant plaque volume regression of the proximal LAD. We decided to continue conservative management. The stress echocardiogram to assess symptoms and exercise tolerance was normal. Our patient was sent to surgery on top of optimal medical therapy even though angioplasty was a good indication and was feasible. However, while he was struggling to afford the CABG procedure, he adopted a very healthy lifestyle along with medical therapy. Six years later, the result of that approach was without appeal, suggesting and reinforcing the conservative management of stable heart disease over invasive strategy. The recent ISCHEMIA trial is a major argument supporting that approach.

Prevention of Mother-to-Child Transmission of HIV: Experience of a Level 2 Health Center in Senegal

The elimination of vertical transmission of HIV from mother to child is a major global goal. In Senegal, the transmission rate was estimated at 3.2% in 2017. To reduce or even eliminate this transmission, Senegal has implemented various strategies and programs adopted and applied nationally. Thus access to services for the prevention of mother-to-child transmission of HIV has been extended to the level of the health post (the lowest level of the country’s health pyramid) with a delegation of tasks to paramedical staff (nurse, midwife) in the diagnosis and therapeutic management. Objectives: To describe the epidemiological profile of HIV (Human Immunodeficiency Virus)-positive mothers, to assess the care of children born to HIV-positive mothers, to determine the rate of HIV transmission from mother to child. Patients and Method: We carried out a retrospective, cross-sectional and descriptive study of all live newborns of HIV-positive mothers who gave birth at the Gaspard Kamara Health Center (a level 2 health center in Dakar, Senegal) between January 1, 2015 and December 31, 2018. The data were collected from prevention of mother-to-child transmission (PMTCT) prenatal follow-up registers and files, delivery files and registers, and neonatology and pediatric follow-up files, and exploited using the Epi info 7 software. Results: There were 98 children of seropositive mothers. The epidemiological profile of the HIV-positive woman was that of a young woman aged between 16 and 43 with an average of 31.31 years, pauciparous (>65% of cases) from Dakar center (>75% of cases), housewife with a low socio-economic level (63.1% of cases), married in almost all cases, with HIV profile (in almost all cases) and diagnosed before pregnancy (51.02%). The analysis of the children’s data revealed a predominance of girls (52.04%) with a good birth weight (2964g on average) and a pregnancy carried to term in more than 95% of cases. ARV prophylaxis was almost entirely respected with triple therapy (AZT + 3TC + NVP) in a fixed combination as protocol. Protected breastfeeding (80.21%), including 6 months of exclusive protected breastfeeding, was the rule for the mode of feeding. Three children were diagnosed positive with PCR1 as with serology (3.06%). Discussion and Conclusion: the initiatives and strategies put in place in Senegal have enabled a significant reduction in mother-to-child transmission of HIV and deserve to be supported by insisting on primary prevention, programming and good follow-up of pregnancies, and a good support for HIV-positive women.

Sex Differences in Clinical and Angiographic Characteristics in Acute Coronary Syndrome Patients in Dakar, Senegal

Background: Coronary artery disease (CAD) is in relentless progression, along with the adoption of western lifestyle in sub-Saharan Africa. In Senegal, the incidence of acute coronary syndrome (ACS) rose from 5% to 12% in Dakar during the last 20 years. That increase was observed in both women and men, and according to current data, the former paid the heaviest price in terms of mortality compared to men. In this study, we aim to retrospectively assess the clinical characteristics and angiographic profile of ACS in women compared to men in two tertiary care centers in Dakar. Methods: In this study, we retrospectively analyzed and compared data between men and women among 133 patients who underwent coronary angiogram for ACS in 2 tertiary centers from February 2019 to January 2020. Results: A total of 133 patients were included in our study of whom 97 (72.9%) were men. The mean age was 58 ± 13.6 years. Women were older than men (61.4 ± 14.3 years vs 56.6 ± 13.5 years (p = 0.07). Hypertension, sedentary lifestyle and obesity were significantly more frequent in women (69.4%, 52.7% and 19.4%) when compared to men (38.8%, 25.7% and 6.19%) respectively, (p = 0.001;0.002 and 0.03). Smoking was less frequent in women (2.8%) than in men (44.3%), (p Conclusion: In our study, women with ACS were older, had more cardiovascular risk factors but less angiographic extent of disease than men.

ST-Elevation Myocardial Infarction (STEMI) in Diabetics Patients in Four Dakar Cardiology Departments

Introduction: Diabetes is an independent risk factor for coronary heart disease worldwide. But few data exist in our developing countries. The objective of this study was to study the particularities of STEMI in diabetic patients in Dakar. Methodology: It was a retrospective, multicenter and descriptive study, carried out over a period of 12 months from 19 September 2019 to 19 September 2020 in four cardiology centers in Dakar. Included was any diabetic patient admitted for STEMI. Data analysis was done with the SPSS (Statistical Package for Sciences Socials) software. Results: A total of 87 diabetic patients were included, for a prevalence of 29.7%. The average age of patients was 60 years. The predominance was male with a sex ratio of 1.1. Diabetes was mostly type 2 (99%) and most patients were on oral antidiabetics (56%). Glycemic imbalance was noted in 24.1% of patients. The associated cardiovascular risk factors were hypertension (51%), dyslipidemia (51%) and physical inactivity (41.4%). Chest pain was typical in 76% of cases. The average time between onset of pain and first medical contact was 47 hours. The electrocardiogram had reached mainly the anterior (25%) and inferior (27%) territories with necrosis Q waves in 37.9% of cases. The coronary angiography was done for 63 patients and found one hundred and twenty-three significant lesions distributed in three-vessel (48%), single-vessel (33%) and two-vessel (14%) disease. Percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI) was performed in 37 patients (42.2%) and thrombolysis in 7 patients. The evolution was favourable in most cases (82%). The reported complications were: 4 cardiogenic shocks, 3 rhythm disorders, 2 conduction disorders and 2 strokes. Four patients had died during hospitalization, for a hospital mortality of 4.59%. Conclusion: STEMI in diabetics are diagnosed with considerable delay in Dakar. The coronary involvement is severe. Their support under optimal. Improving management requires a multidisciplinary approach involving the diabetologist, emergency physician and cardiologist.

Internal Hernia of Broad Ligament： ACT Scan Suspicion and Laparoscopic Treatment

Internal hernia of the broad ligament is rare. Computerized tomography is the key tool of the diagnosis. The treatment is surgical and takes advantage of the use of laparoscopy. We report a case of internal hernia of right broad ligament suspected on computerized tomography and treated by laparoscopy. The following was uneventful.

Inadvertent Lead Malposition in the Left Ventricle during Permanent Ventricular Pacing about One Case

Inadvertent Lead Malposition in Left Ventricle is a rare and underdiagnosed incident, which may occur during implantation of cardiac electronic devices and may remain asymptomatic. We reported the case of a 71-year-old man who was implanted with a ventricular single-chamber pacemaker for a slow atrial fibrillation with syncope and whose routine transthoracic echocardiography 23 months after implantation displayed a malposition of the pacemaker lead into the Left Ventricle through a patent foramen oval. The patient was asymptomatic. The electrocardiogram showed right bundle branch block QRS-paced morphology with a positive QRS pattern in V1, a median paced QRS axis on the frontal plane at -120°, a Precordial transition on V5. At the lateral Chest X-ray the lead curved backwards to the spine. Given the age of this old patient who already received oral anticoagulant for Atrial Fibrillation and the Lead malposition discovered 23 months after pacemaker’s implantation, we decided to maintain the lead in LV and continue anticoagulation.

Surgical Management of Uterine Fibroids: About 175 Cases

Background: Uterine fibroids are a common condition in Senegal and often symptomatic. Our study aims to determine the epidemiological profile, to clarify the diagnostic aspects and to evaluate the surgical management of patients with uterine fibroids. Patients and Method: We carried out a retrospective and descriptive study carried out over a period of 30 months, from August 1, 2017 to January 31, 2020, concerning all patients who underwent surgery for the treatment of uterine myomatosis in the department of Gynecology Obstetrics of the Hospital Principal of Dakar. The data was collected from the patients’ medical records and analyzed using Excel version 2016 and R version 4 software. Results: We collected 175 surgical interventions for uterine fibroids, representing 44.7% of gynecological interventions. Most of the patients were between 30 and 39 years old, with an average age of 39 years. The nulliparous were the majority with 64.6%. The clinical symptomatology was represented by genital bleeding (32.6%), pelvic pain (18.85%) and infertility (12.6%). The diagnosis was confirmed by pelvic ultrasound in all patients with variable myoma topography. A myomectomy was performed in 82.3% of cases and a total hysterectomy in 17.7%. The postoperative course was simple in 94.2% of cases, and the results of treatment revealed a disappearance of symptoms in 94.3% of cases. Conclusion: Surgery occupies a prominent place in the management of uterine fibroids.

Right Coronary Artery Fistulae Draining into Right Atrium: A Case Report

We report the case of a 16-year-old young girl seen for precordial pain and stage II NYHA dyspnea. Clinical examination found a maximal systolodiastolic murmur in the left subclavicular. Lateral Q waves were noted on the electrocardiogram and echocardiography revealed a right coronary fistula draining in right atrium. CT scan confirmed the diagnosis. Patient was addressed to a specialized center for percutaneous closure of the fistula. In case of signs indicating coronary artery disease, the search for coronary anomalies should be systematic in children by using EKG and transthoracic echocardiography. In case of doubt, a second imaging such as the multislice Ct scan is performed. Coronary angiography has a dual diagnostic and therapeutic interest. The indications for treatment depend on the symptoms and the results of ischemia tests.