Incomplete vascular ring of the aortic arch presenting with dysphagia in an adult: case report.

Anomalies of the arterial branches of the arch of the aorta are rare, with the aberrant right subclavian artery being the most common of this anomaly. Majority of the anomalies are asymptomatic and often discovered as incidental findings. In the great majority of the symptomatic cases, the presentation may be either with breathlessness or dysphagia or both.

Outcomes of Surgical Management for Patent Ductus Arteriosus in Infants in Nigeria.

Background: Patent ductus arteriosus is a common cardiac anomaly in infants that, if untreated, is associated with high morbidity and mortality rates. In lower-middle-income countries, such as Nigeria, obtaining cardiovascular surgical care for infants remains difficult. In recent years, especially with the assistance of international voluntary cardiac organizations, efforts have increased to provide cardiac surgical services to this underserved population.

Bilateral Giant Familial Carotid Body Tumors With Concomitant Skull-Base Paraganglioma and Facial Nerve Palsy.

Carotid body tumors, rare neck paragangliomas arising from the common carotid artery bifurcation, can be classified as sporadic, hyperplastic, or familial. The familial type is often bilateral and associated with germline mutation of the mitochondrial enzyme succinate dehydrogenase. We report the rare case of a 42-year-old man who presented with bilateral giant familial carotid body tumors associated with a concomitant skull-base paraganglioma, left-sided facial nerve palsy, and an incomplete circle of Willis.

Challenges in the management of cerebrospinal fluid ascites: a case report.

Cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) ascites is an uncommon sequela of ventriculo-peritoneal (V-P) shunt. We report a case of CSF ascites in a 7-year-old girl with craniopharyngioma and the challenges and limitations we faced in her management. Ascites completely resolved after a ventriculo-atrial (V-A) shunt surgery.

Improving the diagnostic recognition of thoracic endometriosis: Spotlight on a new histo-morphological indicator.

The diagnosis of thoracic endometriosis (TE) is challenging, hence resulting in under-diagnosis as well as long delays before arriving at a correct definitive diagnosis. Our aim is to review the histopathological findings in TE, summarise the diagnostic features, identify any major histo-morphological indicator(s) hitherto unrecognised as such, suggest diagnostic criteria; all with the aim of improving the diagnostic capacity and reducing observer error even where the clinical suspicion is low. A case-control study in which a search in the pathology archives of a referral hospital over a 10-year period was conducted.

Thoracic endometriosis syndrome in Nigeria: a single-centre experience.

Objectives: Thoracic endometriosis syndrome (TES) is the presence of functional endometrial tissue in or around the lung. There seem to be differences in the clinical presentation of this condition among Nigerian patients. We aim to study the clinical presentation and management outcome of TES in our centre.

Postintubation tracheal stenosis: Surgical management.

Postintubation tracheal stenosis (PITS) is a known complication of endotracheal intubation or tracheostomy. It is the most common indication for tracheal resection/reconstructive surgery. Despite technological improvement and skilled patient care in the ICU, PITS still constitutes an important group of iatrogenic sequela after intubation.

Utilisation of blood and blood products during open heart surgery in a low-income country: our local experience in 3 years.

Background: In Nigeria, access to open heart surgery (OHS) is adversely affected by insufficient blood and blood products, including the challenges because of the lack of patient-focused blood management strategies owing to the absent requisite point-of-care tests in the operating theatre (OR)/ICU. In addition, the limited availability of altruistic blood donors including the detection of transfusion transmitted infections more commonly among non-altruistic blood donors is another burden affecting the management of excessive bleeding during and after open heart surgery in our country.

Objective: The objective of this study was to review our local experience in the use of blood and blood products during open heart surgery and compare the same with the literature.

Management of complex CHD at the National Cardiothoracic Center of Excellence, University of Nigeria Teaching Hospital, Enugu: the role of foreign cardiac missions in 3.5 years.

Background: CHD is defined as structural defect(s) in the heart and proximal blood vessels present at birth. The National Cardiothoracic Center of Excellence, University of Nigeria Teaching Hospital (UNTH), Enugu, through the aid of visiting Cardiac Missions has managed a significant number of patients within the last 3.5 years.

GIANT PSEUDOANEURYSM OF A SPLANCHNIC ARTERY; A Case Report.

A true aneurysm is defined as an enlargement of an artery resulting in a diameter more than 1.5 times the anatomic size. It can be fusiform when it covers the entire perimeter of the vessel, or saccular when it bulges on one side of the artery.

Giant primary synovial sarcoma of the anterior mediastinum: A case report and review of literature.

Primary synovial sarcoma is a very rare tumor of the mediastinum, which is unreported in the entire subcontinent of West Africa, and presents daunting challenges from diagnosis to management with lack of standard management strategies. We present a case of primary monophasic synovial sarcoma of the anterior mediastinum, in a 22-year-old Nigerian lady who presented with cough, chest pain, and pleural effusion. Chest X-ray (CXR) and computed tomography on admission showed a left-sided huge mass in the left anterior mediastinum with no metastasis to the contralateral pleural cavity.

The profile of chest injuries in a southeastern Nigeria teaching hospital, a 10-year experience.

Background: Globally, major chest injuries have both high morbidity and mortality. A detailed study of chest injuries in south-eastern Nigeria is here presented.

Aims: To determine the incidence, the predisposing factors, the pattern of presentation and the outcome of management of chest injuries.

Challenges of lung cancer management in a developing country.

Background: The investigation of pulmonary neoplasm in Nigeria is hampered by lack of investigative tools and religio-cultural beliefs that detest autopsy. However, recent publications seem to suggest an increasing incidence of this lesion in Nigeria.

Materials And Methods: A 30-month prospective study of all cases of lung cancer seen at a tertiary health institution in Nigeria was done to document the incidence and challenges of management in the region.

The challenges facing the management of arterial aneurysm in UNTH, Enugu.

Background: The management of arterial aneurysm either central or peripheral has undergone evolution over the past decades. We encounter both true and pseudo aneurysm on regular basis with its complications:

Objective: To assess the challenges of managing arterial aneurysm at UNTH, Enugu in view of the health complications of the condition.

Method: Medical records of all patients with documented arterial aneurysm over a 5-year period (2007-2011) were reviewed.

Tube thoracostomy: complications and its management.

Background. Tube thoracostomy is widely used throughout the medical, surgical, and critical care specialities. It is generally used to drain pleural collections either as elective or emergency.

Pulmonary Lymphomatoid Granulomatosis: Report of A Case and Review of Literature.

Lymphomatoid granulomatosis (LYG) is a rare angiocentric lymphoproliferative process predominantly affecting the lung. The diagnosis of this condition is often difficult as the physical signs, history, chest x-ray, and routine laboratory investigations are usually non-specific. Nevertheless, it is important to establish a tissue diagnosis, as this lymphoproliferative disorder can be refractory to treatment and even progress to overt lymphoma.

A study of extracranial aneurysms at UNTH in Enugu, Nigeria.

Background: Previous studies on aneurysms in Nigeria have either been case reports or studies of peripheral aneurysms. No study has comprehensively evaluated all aspects of this disease as an entity among Nigerians. The need therefore arises to re-evaluate this lesion so as to make deductions on incidence, sex ratio, aetiology and management.

Percutaneous needle pleural biopsies in pleural effusion of uncertain aetiology in a Nigerian teaching hospital.

Clinical observation shows that most of the patients with pleural effusion of undetermined aetiology in a Nigerian teaching hospital receive antiTB drug trials. This observation prompted the authors to evaluate the role of percutaneous needle pleural biopsy as a diagnostic tool in effusions of uncertain aetiology. Thirty-seven patients with pleural effusion of uncertain aetiology were investigated by percutaneous pleural biopsies using Abrams pleural biopsy needle over an 18-month period.

Traumatic common carotid-jugular fistula: report of 2 cases.

Traumatic common carotid artery-to-internal jugular vein fistula is a rare entity that is not usually detected during the acute injury phase. We present 2 cases of traumatic carotid-jugular fistula. Both involved the right side of the neck, and both were due to injury from a firearm.

Pregnancy after heart valve replacement--case report.

There is an increased risk of thromboembolism, anticoagulant-related haemorrhage, foetal-wastage, and congestive cardiac failure in pregnant women with mechanical heart valves. Pregnancy in such patients is a high risk venture. In order to have a good outcome, the care of such patients must necessarily be multidisciplinary and in a well-equipped centre with adequate support services.