Cardio-thoracic surgical experience in Gabon.

Our experience in cardio-thoracic surgery focuses on thoracic activity. The minimum fare for traumatisms, infectious pathology and tumoral pathology requires, for its improvement, the acquisition of a technical platform and of an adequate medical infrastructure, with a rational organisation of the care sequence. Vascular surgery calls for the training of qualified human resources, and the great demand in heart surgery calls upon the public powers for the construction of infrastructures, and the formation of necessary superstructures.

[Strangulated groin hernia still frequent in tropical milieu].

This study aimed to describe the epidemiological, clinical, therapeutic and postoperative data of strangulated groin hernia. Details of consecutive adults patients admitted to our emergency wards for strangulated groins hernia and operated on from august 1998 to december 2007 were recorded. In addition the mode of presentation, hernia type, treatment and outcome were also recorded for each case.

[Pulmonary bilharziosis due to Schistosoma haematobium: pitfalls of species diagnosis. A case report from Libreville, Gabon].

The purpose of this report is to describe a case of pulmonary schistosomiasis treated at la Fondation Jeanne Ebori in Libreville, Gabon. This case is exceptional due to the rarity of the disease and the schistosomiasis agent involved. The patient was a 47-year-old woman who presented with recurrent right-sided pneumonia 6 months after initial hospitalization and nonspecific antimicrobial therapy.

Chronic blood transfusion therapy practices to treat strokes in children with sickle cell disease.

Purpose: To identify variations in practices used by nurses for pediatric patients with sickle cell disease (SCD) receiving chronic blood transfusion therapy for strokes.

Data Sources: Descriptive study of a convenience sample of 11 nurses who care for children with SCD from nine institutions completed a closed-ended questionnaire consisting of 37 items. Responses reflected practice experience with a total of 189 transfused patients with SCD.

Calcified pleuropericardic cysts--2 cases report.

Pleuropericardic cysts represent 5 to 7 per cent of tumours of the mediastinum. Their origin is a defect in development of pericardic coelomic cavities. They are located in the right and cardio-phrenic corner in 70 per cent of cases.

[Thoracic traumas and wounds in Libreville. Therapeutic aspects. Apropos of 106 cases].

106 cases of trauma and chest wounds have been treated at the Jeanne Ebori Foundation from 1980 to 1990. They involved 90 men (85%) and 16 women (16%) with an average age of 35. The prevalent etiology was road accidents 55 (52%), followed by assaults 30 (28%).

[Caustic stenosis of the esophagus in Libreville. Results of the surgical treatment].

41 cases of caustic stenosis of the oesophagus were treated surgically by the thoracic and visceral surgical teams of La Fodation Jeanne Ebori and L'Hopital Pédiatrique d'Owendo in Libreville. The lesions were due to bleach ingestion in 38 cases, caustic soda in 2 cases and sulfuric acid in 1 case. Ingestion was an accident in 29 cases and voluntary in 12.

[Spiegelian hernia. Apropos of a series of 31 cases].

31 cases of spiegelian hernias are reported. It is one of the world biggest statistics of this affection. The patients were divided in 18 women and 13 men, with an average of 45 years old.

[Sickle cell anemia and surgery. Personal experiences at the Owendo Pediatric Hospital].

This work is based on 21 cases. The age varies from 1 to 15 years. The clinical manifestations are dominated by osseous painful phenomena, occurring by crisis relative to ischemic processes and infarctus, lameness and seldom a pathological fracture.