Psychological Distress and Its Associated Factors Among Parents of Children With Congenital Heart Disease: A Cross-Sectional Mixed Method Study at the National Cardiothoracic Center, Ghana.

Background: The aim of this study was to examine the prevalence and factors associated with psychological distress among parents of children with congenital heart disease (PCCHD) receiving treatment at the National Cardiothoracic Centre (NCTC), Accra.

Methods: A cross-sectional mixed method study involving 248 parents of children with congenital heart disese receiving treatment at the NCTC was employed. Systematic sampling was used to select participants.

Management of caustic pharyngoesophageal injuries in Korle Bu Teaching Hospital, Accra, Ghana: a 12-year retrospective review of 29 cases.

Introduction: caustic pharyngoesophageal strictures are life-threatening injuries with important management difficulties, lacking clear therapeutic guidelines. The aim of this study is to evaluate the surgical procedures and outcomes of severe caustic pharyngoesophageal strictures in our institution.

Methods: a total of 29 patients who underwent surgery for severe caustic pharyngoesophageal injury at the National Cardiothoracic Center from June 2006 to December 2018 were retrospectively reviewed.

Changes in origin of acute chest pain in a sub-Saharan African setting.

Our aim was to demonstrate a shifting epidemiology of acute chest pain in Ghana. Efforts to increase physician awareness and best practices are urgently required. Patients presenting with acute chest pain to the two leading tertiary care centres in Accra were investigated.

Self-reported hypertension as a predictor of chronic health conditions among older adults in Ghana: analysis of the WHO Study on global Ageing and adult health (SAGE) Wave 2.

Introduction: Hypertension has been identified as a significant predictor of many chronic health conditions. Body Mass Index (BMI) and Quality of Life (QoL) are key determinants of hypertension especially among elderly populations. In this study, we examined the effect of self-reported hypertension (SRH) on chronic health conditions and quality of life among older adults in Ghana.

Twenty Years of Repair of Ventricular Septal Defects in Ghana.

Background: Ventricular Septal Defect (VSD) is the commonest congenital heart disease. Without appropriate treatment, it is associated with significant morbidity and mortality. Surgical repair under cardiopulmonary bypass has been the standard treatment.

Pattern of esophageal injuries and surgical management: A retrospective review.

Background: The consequence of significant injury to the esophagus is devastating. The initial management when timely and appropriate is rewarding and often prevents lethal complications. The objective of this study is to describe the etiology of esophageal injury in our institution, the management procedures and the mid-term results.

Challenges of Caring for Functionally Single Ventricle Patients in Africa.

Surgical palliation has remarkably improved survival of functionally single ventricle (FSV) patients born in developed nations but such outcomes have not occurred in Africa. The poor care coverage for FSV patients in Africa exists within the larger sphere of deficient health care for children born with congenital heart defects (CHDs) in Africa generally. This review takes the position that to improve health-care coverage for CHD patients on the continent, political priority is paramount.

Status and Challenges of Care in Africa for Adults With Congenital Heart Defects.

The 54 countries in Africa have an estimated total annual congenital heart defect (CHD) birth prevalence of 300,486 cases. More than half (51.4%) of the continental birth prevalence occurs in only seven countries.

Conotruncal Heart Defect Repair in Sub-Saharan Africa: Remarkable Outcomes Despite Poor Access to Treatment.

Background: The outcome of children born with conotruncal heart defects may serve as an indication of the status of pediatric cardiac care in sub-Saharan Africa (SSA). This study was undertaken to determine the outcome of children born with conotruncal anomalies in SSA, regarding access to treatment and outcomes of surgical intervention.

Methods: From our institution in Ghana, we retrospectively analyzed the outcomes of surgery, in the two-year period from June 2013 to May 2015.

Hypothermic cardiopulmonary bypass without exchange transfusion in sickle-cell patients: a matched-pair analysis.

Objectives: Sickle-cell patients undergo cardiopulmonary bypass (CPB) surgery in our institution without perioperative exchange transfusion. We sought to determine whether this protocol increased mortality or important sickle-cell-related complications.

Methods: We adopted a 1:1 matched-pair case-control methodology to evaluate the safety of our protocol.

Strictly-posterior thoracotomy: a minimal-access approach for construction of the modified Blalock-Taussig shunt in West African children.

Introduction: In resource-poor settings, the modified Blalock-Taussig shunt (MBTS) is often performed for symptomatic relief of Fallot's tetralogy. From September 2011, we adopted the strictly posterior thoracotomy (SPOT), a minimal-access technique for the MBTS and report the cosmetic advantages in this communication.

Methods: We retrospectively analyzed the records of consecutive patients in whom the SPOT approach was used to construct the MBTS.

Massive intrathoracic lipoma: a report of two cases, one being congenital.

Massive intrathoracic lipomas are uncommon. Few cases have been reported worldwide. We report two cases, one of which was congenital.

The paediatric cardiac centre for Africa--proceedings of the March 2012 symposium.

The Pediatric Cardiac Centre for Africa (PCCA) was opened by national patron Mr Nelson Mandela on November 7, 2003. In 2008, the Centre's international pediatric cardiac symposium was introduced as a learning forum for pediatric cardiac surgeons and cardiologists in the continent. The symposium has consistently grown in attendance and attracted distinguished leaders in the field.

Boerhaave's syndrome: diagnosis and successful primary repair one month after the oesophageal perforation.

Boerhaave's syndrome (Spontaneous oesophageal perforation following forceful vomiting) is uncommon. However, when it occurs and the appropriate treatment is not given on time, it is fraught with early complications, leading to a very high mortality rate. This is a characteristic feature of this syndrome.

Junctional ectopic tachycardia following repair of congenital heart defects-experience in multimodal management from a West African Centre.

Background: Postoperative junctional ectopic tachycardia (JET) is a rare and transient phenomenon occurring after repair of congenital heart defects. Report on this arrhythmia in the subregion is rare. We set out to determine the incidence of this arrhythmia and review the treatment and outcomes of treatment in our centre.

The National Cardiothoracic Centre, Accra Ghana: proceedings of the second International Update Course in Cardiology - improving the coverage of cardiology services.

Many developing countries now face the growing phenomenon of the double burden of disease. Most are still grappling with infectious diseases resulting from poor environmental sanitation and lack of access to good drinking water like malaria, cholera, and enteric fever. At the same time changes in diet and lifestyle in general in these countries is resulting in increasing numbers of people with obesity, sedentary life styles, increased salt intake from fast foods, increased smoking and consumption of alcohol and fizzy drinks, hypertension and diabetes.

The development of cardiac surgery in West Africa--the case of Ghana.

West Africa is one of the poorest regions of the world. The sixteen nations listed by the United Nations in this sub-region have some of the lowest gross domestic products in the world. Health care infrastructure is deficient in most of these countries.

Management of intrathoracic oesophageal perforation: analysis of 16 cases.

Intrathoracic oesophageal perforation remains a life-threatening lesion that requires early diagnosis and the appropriate intervention in order to reduce morbidity and mortality. Management depends largely on the cause of the perforation, the integrity of the oesophagus and the time lapse between the perforation and the commencement of treatment. Our aim was to evaluate the management options that were employed in the treatment of patients with oesophageal perforation and the outcome.

Permanent complete heart block following surgical correction of congenital heart disease.

Background: The risk of complete heart block (CHB) from congenital heart repairs in Ghana is unknown. This information is important for referring physicians and in pre-operative counselling of patients and facilitates the process of obtaining informed consent for such repairs.

Objectives: This study was undertaken to determine the incidence of permanent post-operative CHB requiring pacemaker implantation; and the post-operative problems related to the pacemaker.

Colopharyngoplasty for intractable caustic pharyngoesophageal strictures in an indigenous African community--adverse impact of concomitant tracheostomy on outcome.

Objectives: Surgical management of caustic strictures of the upper digestive tract poses difficult challenges. This is because reconstruction above the cricopharyngeal junction interferes with the mechanisms of swallowing and respiration. This report reviews the outcome of colopharyngeal reconstruction of severe diffuse pharyngoesophageal caustic strictures in an indigenous African community.

Experience from a single centre concerning the surgical spectrum and outcome of adolescents and adults with congenitally malformed hearts in West Africa.

Background: This study was undertaken to review the spectrum and surgical outcome of adolescents and adults with congenitally malformed hearts from January, 1993 to December, 2008. The lack of data on this emerging problem from the West African sub-region prompted this report.

Patients And Method: This retrospective study is based on 135 adolescents and adults with congenitally malformed hearts.