Advocacy at the Eighth World Congress of Pediatric Cardiology and Cardiac Surgery

The Eighth World Congress of Pediatric Cardiology and Cardiac Surgery (WCPCCS) will be held in Washington DC, USA, from Saturday, 26 August, 2023 to Friday, 1 September, 2023, inclusive. The Eighth World Congress of Pediatric Cardiology and Cardiac Surgery will be the largest and most comprehensive scientific meeting dedicated to paediatric and congenital cardiac care ever held. At the time of the writing of this manuscript, The Eighth World Congress of Pediatric Cardiology and Cardiac Surgery has 5,037 registered attendees (and rising) from 117 countries, a truly diverse and international faculty of over 925 individuals from 89 countries, over 2,000 individual abstracts and poster presenters from 101 countries, and a Best Abstract Competition featuring 153 oral abstracts from 34 countries. For information about the Eighth World Congress of Pediatric Cardiology and Cardiac Surgery, please visit the following website: [www.WCPCCS2023.org]. The purpose of this manuscript is to review the activities related to global health and advocacy that will occur at the Eighth World Congress of Pediatric Cardiology and Cardiac Surgery. Acknowledging the need for urgent change, we wanted to take the opportunity to bring a common voice to the global community and issue the Washington DC WCPCCS Call to Action on Addressing the Global Burden of Pediatric and Congenital Heart Diseases. A copy of this Washington DC WCPCCS Call to Action is provided in the Appendix of this manuscript. This Washington DC WCPCCS Call to Action is an initiative aimed at increasing awareness of the global burden, promoting the development of sustainable care systems, and improving access to high quality and equitable healthcare for children with heart disease as well as adults with congenital heart disease worldwide

Gluteal Fibrosis. A report of 28 cases from Kumi Hospital, Uganda

Background: Gluteal fibrosis is a muscle disorder marked by intramuscular fibrous bands within the substance of the gluteal muscle. These bands lead to secondary contractures that affect the function of the hip joint(s). Different hypotheses have been put forward concerning the etiology of gluteal fibrosis. A congenital muscular dysplasia was postulated by Hnevkovsky10 and a lesion similar to the sternocleidomastoid muscle contracture in congenital tortocollis was suggested by Fairbank and Barret Llyoyd-Roberts and Thomas called attention because of severe systemic disease in infancy or childhood.Patients and Methods: Twenty eight cases of gluteal fibrosis seen from August 2004 to May 2006 are presented. All cases had bilateral gluteal fbrosis and the severity of the condition depicted the clinical picture. All of them but two had been treated with IM Quinine. The two exceptions had been one with IM Penicillin and the second with Streptomycin. One case had both gluteal fibrosis and paralytic drop foot. The treatment in all of them was incision of the fibrous tissue followed by squatting and sitting exercises. One of the cases was complicated by foot drop following sciatic nerve injury but recovered after 6/12Results: Our results were excellent and brought smiles to faces of many patients and parents. Three months after Surgery hip flexion averaged between 80 and 130 degrees. Two of our cases were complicated by sepsis and one developed paralytic foot dro

Gluteal Fibrosis. A report of 28 cases from Kumi Hospital, Uganda.

Background: Gluteal fibrosis is a muscle disorder marked by intramuscular fibrous bands within the substance of the gluteal muscle. These bands lead to secondary contractures that affect the function of the hip joint(s). Different hypotheses have been put forward concerning the etiology of gluteal fibrosis. A congenital muscular dysplasia was postulated by Hnevkovsky10 and a lesion similar to the sternocleidomastoid muscle contracture in congenital tortocollis was suggested by Fairbank and Barret Llyoyd-Roberts and Thomas called attention because of severe systemic disease in infancy or childhood. Patients and Methods: Twenty eight cases of gluteal fibrosis seen from August 2004 to May 2006 are presented. All cases had bilateral gluteal fbrosis and the severity of the condition depicted the clinical picture. All of them but two had been treated with IM Quinine. The two exceptions had been one with IM Penicillin and the second with Streptomycin. One case had both gluteal fibrosis and paralytic drop foot. The treatment in all of them was incision of the fibrous tissue followed by squatting and sitting exercises. One of the cases was complicated by foot drop following sciatic nerve injury but recovered after 6/12 Results: Our results were excellent and brought smiles to faces of many patients and parents. Three months after Surgery hip flexion averaged between 80 and 130 degrees. Two of our cases were complicated by sepsis and one developed paralytic foot dro

Pulmonary hypertension among 5 to 18 year old children with sickle cell anaemia in Nigeria

<div><p>Background</p><p>Pulmonary hypertension (PHT) is a significant cause of mortality in patients with sickle cell disease (SCD). Few studies on PHT in SCD have been carried out in children. This study aimed to estimate the prevalence of PHT in children with sickle cell anaemia (SCA) and determine its clinical and laboratory correlates.</p><p>Methods</p><p>In this cross sectional study, evaluation involved obtaining bio-data, history and physical examination findings in 175 SCA subjects with haemoglobin genotype SS aged 5 to 18 years and 175 age and sex matched controls with haemoglobin genotype AA. PHT was determined using peak Tricuspid Regurgitant Velocity (TRV) obtained from echocardiography as a marker. Complete blood count (CBC), lactate dehydrogenase (LDH) assay, reticulocyte count, foetal haemoglobin (HbF) estimation as well as Human Immunodeficiency Virus (HIV) I and II, Hepatitis B Virus (HBV) and Hepatitis C Virus (HCV) screening were done for patients with SCA.</p><p>Results</p><p>The mean peak TRV of subjects with SCA and controls was 2.2 ± 0.4 m/s and 1.9 ± 0.3 m/s respectively and prevalence of PHT among children with SCA and controls was 22.9% and 2.3% respectively. PHT in SCA correlated negatively with body mass index, haematocrit and haemoglobin.</p><p>Conclusion</p><p>This study affirms that PHT prevalence is high in children with SCA in Nigeria. Cardiovascular examination for signs of PHT is recommended for children with SCA and if required, further echocardiographic assessment from as early as five years.</p></div

Independent variables associated with PHT.

<p>Independent variables associated with PHT.</p

Flow chart showing recruitment of SCA subjects.

<p>Flow chart showing recruitment of SCA subjects.</p

Prevalence of pulmonary hypertension in SCA subjects and controls.

<p>Prevalence of pulmonary hypertension in SCA subjects and controls.</p

Flow chart showing recruitment of control subjects.

<p>Flow chart showing recruitment of control subjects.</p