Résection endoscopique des polypes colorectaux pédiculés en utilisant un lasso largable au fil catgut chromé : une alternative a la polypectomie conventionnelle? A propos d’une série de cas

L'intérêt de l'endoscopie dans la résection des polypes colorectaux a été rapporté dans plusieurs études. Les techniques de résection endoscopique sont multiples et maîtrisées dans les pays occidentaux. La technique de mucosectomie endoscopique et celle de la pose d'une anse largable en nylon (endoloop) ont élargi le champ des lésions résécables par endoscopie. Toutefois, malgré cette évolution, la vulgarisation de la polypectomie n'est pas effective. En Afrique subsaharienne, la prise en charge de ces polypes de grande taille nécessite souvent une intervention chirurgicale à ciel ouvert ou une évacuation sanitaire onéreuse dans un pays en Occident. Nous rapportons une nouvelle approche de polypectomie endoscopique des polypes pédiculés colorectaux, en utilisant un lasso largable au fil catgut chromé 2/0. Les polypes pédiculés étaient situés soit au niveau du sigmoïde soit au rectum. Après avoir passé le lasso autour du pédicule, le n'ud du lasso est serré autour de celui-ci pour strangulation. En moyenne 6 jours après la procédure, le polype est récupéré dans les selles. Une colonoscopie de contrôle est nécessaire pour confirmer la résection du polype. Cette technique peu coûteuse et accessible, devrait être vulgarisée dans les pays en voie de développement avec des plateaux techniques pauvres. Elle a ses limites et ses inconvénients qui doivent être connus de l'opérateur.Key words: Polypes coliques, catgut, polypectomie endoscopique, coloscopie, endoloop, Cameroun, Afrique subsaharienn

Laparoscopic surgery for groin hernia in a third world country: a report of 9 cases of transabdominal pre-peritoneal (TAPP) repair in Yaoundé, Cameroon

Groin hernia repair is probably the most common procedure in general surgery. Today, in adult hernias, prosthetic repairs are accepted to be superior to "non-mesh" suture repairs. Concerning mesh repair, the (open) LICHENSTEIN and laparoscopic inguinal hernia techniques are recommended as the best evidence-based options. Nevertheless laparoscopic repair techniques still not currently practiced in sub-Saharan countries and particularly in Cameroon. From January 2011 to November 2014, a prospective laparoscopic groin hernia-specific database was queried for all adult patients in the visceral and laparoscopic surgery unit of the National Insurance Health Center of Essos (Yaoundé/Cameroon). Seven patients were recorded. All of them were male with a mean age of 49 years. Two cases were bilateral, 5 unilateral and all of them primary. There were 6 direct and 3 indirect hernias. They underwent 9 Transabdominal Pre-peritoneal (TAPP) repair and none Totally Extra-Peritoneal (TEP) procedure was done. A self-gripping overlapping flap was inserted in all cases. The mean length of the procedure was decreasing with time, from 150 min for our first procedure to 60 minutes for the last one. With a mean follow-up period of 20.2 months, the post-operatives courses were uneventful. Laparoscopic hernia repair in general and TAPP in particularly is a safe and reproducible procedure even in developing countries. African surgeons should be aware of this technique.Pan African Medical Journal 2016; 2

Epidemiology of hepatitis C: related hepatocellular carcinoma in Cameroon

Introduction: hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) is a global public health problem. Hepatitis C virus (HCV) infection accounts for close to 24% of HCC in developing countries especially when associated with cirrhosis. There exists no vaccine against HCV to prevent the occurrence of HCV-related HCC. A sound knowledge of the epidemiology and prevention of the initial infection is vital. The aim of our study was to determine the epidemiologic profile of HCV-related HCC in Cameroon to improve its’ management. Methods: it was a prospective study of histologically proven HCV-related HCC seen in two University Centers in Yaounde, Cameroon from March 2012 to January 2013. Demographic data (age, gender), alcohol abuse (>80g/day), presence of cirrhosis, tobacco abuse and parenteral exposition were analyzed. Results: twenty-six patients with histologically proven HCV–related HCC were included (18 men (69.2%) and 8 women (30.8%); mean age +/- SD, 61.46+/-10.18 years). A total of 22 (84.6%) patients had a parenteral exposition, 02 (7.7%) patients were alcoholics and 06 (23.1%) patients were smokers. The proportion of patients with cirrhosis was 69.2% against 30.8% cirrhosis-free. Patients with cirrhosis were relatively younger than those cirrhosis-free (mean age +/- SD, 59.05+/-10.05 years vs 66.87+/- 8.72 years, p=0.06). HCV-related HCC was more prevalent in 60 years and above patients (53.8%, 95%CI: 33.4-73.4). The relative risk of HCC among alcoholics patients was high (RR: 1.5, 95%CI: 1.13-1.99, p<0.05). Conclusion: in Cameroon, HCV-related HCC is more prevalent among age older than 60 years, a finding which is relatively less to that found in western countries, male gender is twice more at risk than female gender and cirrhosis frequency is less compared to that observed elsewhere. HCV and alcohol play a synergistic role in the occurrence of HCC in our environment

Successful bovine arch replacement for a type A acute aortic dissection in a pregnant woman with severe haemodynamic compromise.

Acute aortic dissection is very uncommon in pregnant women and the acute type A aortic dissection carries a high mortality rate outside specialized centres. There are a few cases reported with successful outcomes for the mother and the foetus from major cardiac centres. We are reporting our first experience of acute aortic dissection during the third trimester of pregnancy in a patient with Marfan features, profound haemodynamic compromise on arrival and a bovine aortic arch. Both the mother and the baby are doing well two years postoperatively

Fracture of the Femur of A Newborn after Cesarean Section for Breech Presentation and Fibroid Uterus :A Case Report and Literature Review

Introduction: The practice of cesarean section is known to decrease the occurrence of long bone fractures. We present here an unusual diaphyseal fracture of the femur of a newborn after cesarean section, the only case observed in our 14 years of practice. Case Report: The patient was a 3.4-kg female child born at 38 weeks of gestation. The mother was a primipara and aged 39 years. Ultrasound examination at 20th week revealed intrauterine fibroids with a breech presentation. Therefore, elective cesarean section was indicated. There was no apparent bone disorder that could predispose to sustain femur fracture. The fracture was treated successfully with a bilateral spica cast. The cesarean section was indicated in an aged primipara, bearer of uterine fibroids, and breech presentation. She had a good general health status, but her bone density was unknown since this examination is not routinely performed in our clinical settings in Africa. Conclusion: Elderly age, primipara status, presence of uterine fibroids, and breech presentation are usual indications for cesarean section. However, there are not many reports on femur fracture after cesarean section. Our present case suggests that despite the latest advances in delivery techniques, cesarean section for breech presentation predisposes the neonate to femoral fractures. Keywords: Femur fracture; Cesarean section; Fibroid; Breech presentation; Africa

Successful management of oesophageal atresia in Cameroon, Sub-Saharan Africa

Background: Oesophageal atresia (EA) is the most common congenital anomaly of the oesophagus. Despite improvement of survival observed over the previous two decades in developed countries, the mortality remains very high and the management greatly challenging in resource-poor settings such as Cameroon. We report our experience of management of EA in this environment, with a successful outcome. Materials and Methods: We prospectively assessed patients diagnosed with EA and operated in January 2019, at the University Hospital Centre of Yaounde. Records were reviewed for demographics, history and physical examinations, radiological findings, surgical procedures and outcomes. The study has received approval from the Institutional Ethics Committees. Results: In total, six patients (three males and three females, sex ratio, 0.5; mean age at diagnosis, 3.6 days; range, 1–7 days) were assessed. A past history of polyhydramnios was found in one patient (16.7%). All patients were classified Waterston Group A at diagnosis, with Ladd-Swenson type III atresia. Early primary repair was performed in four patients (66.7%) and delayed primary repair in two patients (33.3%). Operative repair mainly involved resection of the fistula, suture of trachea and oesophagus end-to-end anastomosis, followed by interposition of vascularised pleural flap. Patients were followed up 24 months. With one late death, the survival rate was 83.3%. Conclusion: Improvement has been achieved in the outcomes of neonatal surgery in Africa in the past two decades, but EA-related mortality remains relatively too high. Using simple techniques and available, reproducible equipment can improve survival in resource-poor settings

Dyslipidemia in Patients with a Cardiovascular Risk and Disease at the University Teaching Hospital of Yaoundé, Cameroon

Objective. To determine the frequency of lipid abnormalities in patients with a cardiovascular risk and disease at the University Teaching Hospital (UTH) of Yaoundé. Materials and Methods. We conducted a cross-sectional study from 1 March to 31 May 2015 at the UTH of Yaoundé. We included all patients seen in the outpatient department with a diagnosis of a cardiovascular disease or a risk factor for cardiovascular disease. Patients who accepted to participate in the study were asked to answer a questionnaire; after that a blood sample was taken for lipid profile. An informed consent was signed by all the participants and the study has received approval from the national ethic committee. Results. We recruited 264 patients of which 119 were men and 145 were women with a sex ratio of 0.82. Mean age was 61.36 years. The frequency of lipid profiles abnormalities was as follows: low HDL cholesterol (44.3%), hypertriglyceridemia (18.9%), high LDL cholesterol (3.8%), and high total cholesterol 3.4%). Hypertriglyceridemia was strongly associated with type 2 diabetes mellitus. Conclusion. Low levels of HDL cholesterol and hypertriglyceridemia are more prevalent in our study population. More studies are needed to confirm this finding in our environment

Long Standing Esophageal Perforation due to Foreign Body Impaction in Children: A Therapeutic Challenge in a Resource Limited Setting

Late presentation of foreign body impaction in the esophagus, complicated by perforation in children, has rarely been reported in the literature. Esophageal surgery is very difficult and challenging in Cameroon (a resource limited setting). We are reporting herein 2 cases of esophageal perforation in children seen very late (12 days and 40 days) after foreign body impaction, complicated with severe sepsis, who were successfully operated upon with very good results

Complex Pulmonary Aspergilloma: Surgical Challenges in a Third World Setting

Background. Surgery for pulmonary aspergilloma (PA), especially complex forms, is greatly challenging in a resource-poor setting such as Cameroon. We report our experience of surgical management of PA in this environment. Method. We prospectively assessed patients who underwent surgery for PA from January 2012 to May 2015, at the University Hospital Center of Yaoundé. Records were reviewed for demographics, history and physical examinations, radiological findings, surgical procedures, and outcomes. The study has received approval from the institutional ethics committees. Results. In total, 20 patients (17 males and 3 females (sex ratio, 5.66); mean age, 30 years; range, 23–65 years) with a past history of tuberculosis were assessed. The median follow-up was 21.5 months. The primary symptom was hemoptysis, followed by cough and chest pain. All patients underwent surgical treatment and lung resection. Postoperative complications (bleeding, air leak, empyema, and severe anemia) occurred in 4 patients and 1 patient died. Although 3 patients were lost to follow-up, the survival rate was 80% with improvement of the preoperative symptoms. Conclusion. Although surgery for complex aspergilloma is very challenging in environments such as ours, we believe that it is the best treatment modality for symptomatic diseases in our setting

The Woodward Technique for Sprengel Deformation

A case of 5-year-old boy with a left congenital undescended scapula graded Cavendish III was consulted in our unit and operated successfully with the Woodward technique. It was the first case treated by this procedure for the past 10 years, in the Pediatric Surgical Unit of the Yaounde Gyneco-Obstetric and Pediatric Hospital (Cameroon). The Woodward procedure permitted to obtain a good functional and cosmetic result