The paediatric surgeon and his working conditions in Francophone sub-Saharan Africa.

Background: This study described the current conditions of work of paediatric surgeons in Francophone sub-Saharan Africa (FSSA) and set the debate at the level of the humanist thinking in medicine.

Patients And Methods: This was a multicentre study from 1 st May to 30 th October 2008. The African Society of paediatric surgeons' directory was used to identify paediatric surgeons in the Francophone's countries in Sub Saharan Africa.

[The circumcision in newborn and infant in the operating room of the Lomé Teaching Hospital: technique using Gomco clamp versus technique using only the grips].

Objectives: To describe the various techniques used for the circumcision in newborns and infants in the operating room of the Lomé Teaching Hospital (Togo) and to compare their results.

Patients And Methods: It is about a prospective study carried out in the operating room of the Lomé Teaching Hospital from June 15th, 2007 to December 15th, 2008 (18 months). It concerned newborns and infants circumcised according to two techniques: the technique using grips only (group A: n=138; 69%) and the technique using Gomco clamp (group B: n=62; 31%).

[Acute scrotum in children].

Aims: To evaluate the frequency, to identify the aetiologies of the acute scrotum and to describe their treatment in children.

Material And Method: Fifty seven children treated for acute scrotum in the paediatric surgery department of the Tokoin teaching hospital (Lomé) between January 2003 to December 2007 were studied.

Results: The frequency of acute scrotum was 5.

[The circumcision: why and how is it practiced in the newborn and the infant in the Lomé teaching hospital?].

Objective: To identify the different indications, to analyze the conditions of realization of the circumcisions and to evaluate the results.

Patients And Method: It is about a prospective survey study done in the operative room of the Tokoin teaching hospital (Lomé) and on a period of 12 months (15th June 2007 to 15th June 2008). It was about newborns and infants circumcised in the operative block by a pediatric surgeon.

Transfer of surgical competences in the treatment of intersex disorders in Togo.

Background: To evaluate the impact of scientific seminar on the sexual ambiguity on patients and paediatric surgeons in French-speaking African countries.

Materials And Methods: This was a report of the proceeding of a teaching seminar on intersex management, which was held from December 4 th to 8 th , 2006, in the Paediatric Surgery Department of Tokoin Teaching Hospital and the Surgery Department of "Saint Jean de Dieu" Hospital of Afagnan, Togo.

Results: There were 107 participants [five professors of paediatric surgery, 62 African paediatric surgeons (including 15 from African French-speaking countries), and 40 general surgeons].

[Prophylactic splenectomy to prevent complications of splenomegaly in children with sickle cell anemia?].

Objective: To assess the effects of splenectomy in children with sickle cell anemia and to propose a therapeutic approach to splenomegaly in sickle cell anemia.

Material And Method: This retrospective study, conducted in the pediatric surgery department of the Tokoin Teaching Hospital in Lomé, included 8 children followed for sickle cell anemia (hetero- and homozygous) and who were admitted from January 1987 through December 2004 for splenic rupture or referred for prophylactic splenectomy.

Results: The patients' mean age at splenectomy was 9 years 6 months.