First Malian series of surgery for rheumatic valve disease: opening of the centre, clinical features and peri-operative realities.

Introduction: Over the past two decades, the incidence of acute rheumatic fever (ARF) and chronic rheumatic heart disease (RHD) have dramatically declined in wealthier regions of the world as a result of preventative programmes, improved living standards and access to cardiac surgery. Nevertheless, ARF and RHD are still public health problems in less-developed regions of the world such as Oceania, south Asia and sub-Saharan Africa.

Aim: We report on clinical, therapeutic and prognostic aspects as well as the difficulties encountered during this first series of surgery for rheumatic valve disease in Mali.