Management of Spontaneous Pneumothorax in Pregnancy in a Low‑Income Country during COVID‑19 Pandemic

Spontaneous pneumothorax is a rare and life-threatening emergency. When it occurs in pregnancy, it poses a serious danger for both the mother and the fetus. A high index of suspicion, early diagnosis, and proper management are recommended. We present the case of a 35‑year‑old pregnant woman at the 34th week of gestation who presented via the emergency department complaining of sudden onset of dyspnea and chest pain. The clinical and radiologic evaluation confirmed the right‑sided pneumothorax. She had a closed tube thoracostomy drainage (CTTD) following which the patient’s condition improved. She subsequently had chest tube removal with no recurrence beyond delivery as she had a good outcome. Keywords: Chest tube, COVID‑19, pregnancy, spontaneous pneumothora

Establishing Sustainable Pediatric Cardiac Surgery Program in Nigeria: Challenges and Prospects

Unlike in the Western world, the delivery of cardiovascular services to children and adults born with congenital heart defects (CHDs) in Nigeria is grossly inadequate. There are problems all through the ages of these unfortunate patients. Accurate statistical data of CHD in Nigeria is lacking, but it is comparable to 8 per 1000 live births as seen in other countries. The burden is presently being ameliorated by medical tourisms and foreign cardiac surgery missions, but such services are still inadequate. There is a need for the government to share resources between this noncommunicable (CHD) and communicable diseases. When this is done with assistance of international partners and humanitarian organizations, a sustainable pediatric cardiac surgery program will be established that will definitely enhance the care of these patients at childhood, adolescent, and adult stages of their lives