The History and Evolution of the West African College of Surgeons/Jos University Teaching Hospital Trauma Management Course.

Background: Inadequate trauma care training opportunities exist in Low- and Middle-Income Countries. Jos University Teaching Hospital and the West African College of Surgeons (WACS) have synergized, over the past 15 years, to introduce a yearly, certified, multidisciplinary Trauma Management Course. We explore the history and evolution of this course.

Laparoscopy-assisted Transanal Endorectal Pull-through for the Management of Hirschsprung's Disease in Nigeria: Report of Two Cases.

Hirschsprung's disease is a relatively common disease in pediatric colorectal surgery. The treatment modalities have evolved from third-stage to single-stage in the past three decades. The single-stage procedure can be performed using the open, transanal or laparoscopy-assisted techniques.

Trauma Registry Development for Jos University Teaching Hospital: Report of the First Year Experience.

Adequate intervention in trauma management and prevention requires a well-documented database for objective study of the disease characteristics, hence the need for a trauma registry. The aim and objective of this study is to document in a database all patients admitted in our hospital following trauma. This study was conducted at the Jos University Teaching Hospital, Jos, Plateau State, Nigeria.

Neonatal surgery in Africa.

The management of neonatal surgical problems continues to pose considerable challenges, particularly in low-resource settings. The burden of neonatal surgical diseases in Africa is not well documented. The characteristics of some neonatal surgical problems are highlighted.

Laparoscopic-assisted retrieval of migrated intra-abdominal pacemaker generator.

A 5-year-old boy born with a congenital heart defect had insertion of an epicardial pacemaker that was found on routine evaluation to have been displaced into the rectovesical pouch. He underwent transvenous insertion of another pacemaker, and the displaced pacemaker was successfully retrieved by laparoscopy without incident.

Challenges of training and delivery of pediatric surgical services in Africa.

Background: The practice of pediatric surgery in Africa presents multiple challenges. This report presents an overview of problems encountered in the training of pediatric surgeons as well as the delivery of pediatric surgical services in Africa.

Methods: A returned structured self-administered questionnaire sent to pediatric surgeons practicing in Africa was reviewed and analyzed using SPSS version 11.

Sacrococcygeal teratoma: clinical characteristics and long-term outcome in Nigerian children.

Background/purpose: The excision of sacrococcygeal teratoma (SCT) may be associated with significant long-term morbidity for the child. We reviewed our experience with SCT in a tertiary health care facility in a developing country with particular interest on the long-term sequelae.

Methods: Between January 1990 and May 2008 inclusive, 38 consecutive children with the diagnosis of SCT were identified from the operation register and the Cancer Registry of the Jos University Teaching Hospital.

Childhood cancers: challenges and strategies for management in developing countries.

The developing countries bear the greatest burden of childhood cancers as over 90% of the world's children live in these countries. Childhood cancer in most instances is curable, but many children die from cancer because most children live in developing countries without access to adequate treatment due to high cost of treatment and poor organization in these countries. Initiatives to increase cancer care in developing countries would therefore include establishment of standard cancer care centres, manpower training, establishment of standardized management protocols, procurements of standard drugs and collaboration with international organizations.

Colostomy for high anorectal malformation: an evaluation of morbidity and mortality in a developing country.

Colostomy is a life-saving procedure in newborns with high anorectal malformations (ARM). However, the procedure may be attended by complications, particularly in resource limited settings. This is an evaluation of the morbidity and mortality following colostomy for ARM in newborns in two paediatric teaching centres in a developing country.

Clinical characteristics and outcome of surgical treatment of childhood rhabdomyosarcoma: a 7-year experience.

Background: The aim of this study was to describe the outcome and determine the prognostic factors of outcome of childhood rhabdomyosarcoma in a tertiary hospital in a developing country.

Patients And Methods: This was a retrospective review of the clinical presentation, investigation, intervention, and treatment outcomes of children with rhabdomyosarcoma in our hospital over a 7-year period. Statistical analysis was performed using Chi-square test.

Colostomy in children--an evaluation of acceptance among mothers and caregivers in a developing country.

Background: Colostomy is a common procedure performed in children, mostly for anorectal malformation and Hirschsprung's disease. However, acceptance by parents in developing countries is thought to be poor.

Methods: A prospective evaluation was done to determine the acceptability of colostomy among parents and caregivers, and their attitude towards colostomy in their children.

Typhoid intestinal perforation in children: a continuing scourge in a developing country.

Typhoid intestinal perforation is a principal cause of morbidity and mortality affecting both adults and children. This study aims to evaluate the pattern of typhoid intestinal perforation and outcome of its management in Nigerian children. The records of consecutive children managed for typhoid intestinal perforation at Juth, between 1996 and 2005 have been reviewed.

Management of cystic lymphangioma in children: experience in Jos, Nigeria.

The management of cystic lymphangiomas (CL), especially in the head and neck region, presents challenges to the pediatric surgeon. This is a retrospective study of all children seen with lymphangioma at the Pediatric Surgical Unit of the Jos University Teaching Hospital from 1996 to 2004. There were 27 children, 14 (51.

Complicated umbilical hernias in children.

Umbilical hernia is a common problem in children, particularly in Africans, but complications in these hernias are thought to be rare. In a retrospective study of 47 children presenting for umbilical hernia repair in 14 years, 30 had complications. The complications included acute incarceration 15, recurrent incarceration 10 and spontaneous evisceration 5.