Lohfa B. Chirdan

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 11.5 (SPSS, Chicago, IL). RESULTS Forty-nine (57%) of 86 questionnaires were returned from 8 countries. Great variability in the requirements and training of pediatric surgeons, even within the same country, was found. Many surgical colleges are responsible for standardization and board certification of pediatric surgeons across Africa. There were 6 (12%) centers that train middle level manpower. Twenty-six (53%) participants have 1 to 2 trainees, whereas 22 (45%) have irregular or no trainee. A pediatric surgical trainee needs 2 to 4 (median, 2) years of training in general surgery to be accepted for training in pediatric surgery, and it takes a trainee between 2 to 4 (median, 3) years to complete training as a pediatric surgeon in the countries surveyed. The number of pediatric surgeons per million populations is lowest in Malawi (0.06) and highest in Egypt (1.5). Problems facing adequate delivery of pediatric surgical services enumerated by participants included poor facilities, lack of support laboratory facilities, shortage of manpower, late presentation, and poverty. CONCLUSION The training of pediatric surgical manpower in some African countries revealed great variability in training with multiple challenges. Delivery of pediatric surgical services in Africa presents problems like severe manpower shortage, high pediatric surgeon workload, and poor facilities. Standardization of pediatric surgery training across the continent is advocated, and the problems of delivery of pediatric surgical services need to be addressed urgently, not only by health care planners in Africa but by the international community and donor agencies, if the African child is to have access to essential pediatric surgical services like his or her counterpart in other developed parts of the world.

Ruptured exomphalos and gastroschisis: a retrospective analysis of morbidity and mortality in Nigerian children.

Abstract The survival of infants with major abdominal-wall defects (AWD) has improved over the years in developed countries. In Zaria, northern Nigeria, survival from intact exomphalos (EX), has improved with the adoption of non-operative management. Ruptured EX (REX) and gastroschisis (GS), however, remain problematic. This is a report of the mortality in REX and GS in a retrospective review of 16 infants with REX and 14 with GS managed over 10 years at the Ahmadu Bello University Teaching Hospital, Zaria. The median age at presentation was 3 days and 24 h for REX and GS, respectively; 29 of the 30 patients were delivered at home. Two patients with REX and 4 with GS had associated anomalies involving mostly the gastrointestinal tract. Bowel or omental strangulation occurred in 13 patients, resulting in gangrene in 8. Fascial closure was achieved in 20 patients, skin closure only in 4, and in 4 improvised silo coverage was used, the latter associated with high infection rate. Neonatal intensive care units (NICU) and total parenteral nutrition (TPN) were not available. The overall mortality was 18.6% (gastroschisis 10, ruptured exomphalos 8, 11 from sepsis and 7 due to respiratory embarrassment). The management of these AWDs thus continues to be problematic in our environment, and mortality remains high. Provision of more modern supportive facilities (NICU and TPN) may improve the survival in our and similar environments.

Blunt abdominal trauma in children: epidemiology, management, and management problems in a developing country

Abstract Trauma is the leading cause of death in children in developed countries. In tropical Africa, it is only beginning to assume importance as infections and malnutrition are controlled. In developed countries, the availability of advanced imaging modalities has now reduced the necessity for laparotomy to less than 10% following blunt abdominal trauma (BAT) in children. This report reviews the epidemiology, management, and unnecessary laparotomies for pediatric BAT in a developing country in a retrospective review of 57 children aged 15 years or less at the Ahmadu Bello University Teaching Hospital, Zaria, Nigeria over 12 years. The average age was 9 years and the male-female ratio 3.8:1. Seventy-four percent (74%) of abdominal injuries in children were due to blunt trauma. The commonest causes of injury were road traffic accidents (RTA) (57%), 88% in pedestrians and 59% in children aged 5–9 years. Falls were the cause of trauma in 36%, 60% of them aged 10–15 years. Other causes of injury were sports in 5% and animals in 2%. Diagnosis was clinical, supported by diagnostic peritoneal lavage or paracentesis. Two patients had ultrasonography, and none had computed tomography. Fifty-three patients had a laparotomy, 2 died before surgery, 1 was managed nonoperatively, and in 1 surgery was declined. There were 34 splenic injuries, 20 treated by splenic preservation, splenectomy in 13, and non-operative in 1. Fourteen gastrointestinal injuries were treated in 12 patients. Of 9 hepatic injuries, 4 were minor and were left untreated, 3 were repaired, 1 was packed to arrest hemorhage, and a lacerated accesory liver was excised. Four injuries to the urinary tract (bladder contusion 2, bladder rupture 1, ruptured hydronephrotic kidney 1) were treated accordingly. There were 4 retroperitoneal hematomas associated with other intra-abdominal injuries and 2 pancreatic contusions. One lacerated gallbladder was treated by cholecystectomy and a ruptured left hemidiaphragm was repaired transperitoneally. In retrospect, 27 (51%) patients could have been managed by observation (splenic injury 20, liver injury 5, bladder contusion 2) using advanced imaging modalities. One patient developed an intra-abdominal abscess following splenorrhaphy. The average hospital stay was 17 days. Mortality was 8 (14.5%) from gastric perforation (3), liver injury (2), splenic injury (1), and 2 patients died before surgery. BAT in this population results predominantly from RTA in pedestrians. Laparotomy may be avoided in 51% of cases if advanced imaging modalities are readily available.

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. Their clinical presentation, investigation, operative findings, histology report, and outcome were recorded and analyzed. The long-term follow-up of some of the patients were also recorded and analyzed. RESULTS There were 31 females and 7 males. Twenty-three patients presented during the neonatal period with a median age at presentation of 7 days (range 1-18 days) and a median weight at presentation of 2.8 kg (range 2.0-3.6kg), 10 presented between 1 month and 12 months, while 5 were older than 1 year at presentation. Most of the patients had significantly external tumors. Excision of the tumor was mainly by the sacral route, four had abdominal-sacral excision. Histology was mainly benign; four were malignant at presentation. Four children with malignant disease had chemotherapy in addition to excision of the tumor. Eight had immediate post-operative wound-related complications while three children died, two of the deaths were related to anesthesia, while one died of colostomy complications. Twenty-one (60%) were followed up for a median duration of 6 years (range 1 month-8 years). Two (9.5%) had recurrent disease after primary excision; five (23.8%) had some degree of functional impairment at the follow-up. CONCLUSION While SCT is usually benign, recurrence, malignant transformations in patients who present late and long-term functional sequelae are problems that must be tackled by the care givers. A multi-center study may be necessary to characterize this disease in developing countries and assess the long-term functional sequelae in survivors.

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 worlds 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.

Sigmoid volvulus and ileosigmoid knotting in children

Abstract. Six children with acute intestinal obstruction from sigmoid volvulus (SV) (n=2) and ileosigmoid knotting (ISK) (n=4) are reported. The median age at presentation was 4.5 years (range 2 weeks–15 years). Abdominal pain, distention, vomiting, and constipation were the main features. Two patients with ISK had bowel gangrene. In three children there was no identifiable cause; two had a narrow attachment of the sigmoid mesocolon with redundant colon and one had adhesive bands. Treatment was by resection and colostomy in five cases and derotation of the torted colon in one. One child with SV died following a wound infection. There was no recurrence. SV and ISK are uncommon in children. There are usually no features specific for these conditions, and the diagnosis is established at laparotomy. The prognosis is good when there is aggressive resuscitation and prompt surgery.

Neonatal intestinal perforation in a developing country.

Summary Between 1990 and 1999, 14 neonates with intestinal perforation were treated at the Ahmadu Bello University Teaching Hospital, Zaria, Nigeria. Median age at presentation was 9 days and median weight 2.65 kg. Five had high anorectal malformation, three Hirschsprungs disease and two ruptured exomphalos with bowel strangulation. Gastroschisis, strangulated inguinal hernia, ileal atresia and umbilical sepsis with evisceration accounted for one case each. Two of the perforations were iatrogenic during colostomy construction. Seven perforations were in the small bowel and seven in the colorectum. Three neonates had oedema and tenderness of the anterior abdominal wall, and pneumoperitoneum was seen in abdominal radiographs in two. All the infants had laparotomy, four under local anaesthesia, after resuscitation. Three had simple suture of the perforation, five had resection with primary anastomosis and six had exteriorization colostomy. Overall, eight (59%) died, five with colorectal perforation and three with small bowel perforation.

Hirschsprung's disease in the newborn : experience in Zaria, Nigeria

Summary In a 10-year retrospective review of 15 newborns aged ≤ 42 days presenting with Hirschsprungs disease, there were 12 boys and three girls aged 4–42 days (median 18 days). Twelve babies presented with complete intestinal obstruction. In 12 babies, there was a history of delayed passage of meconium (after 2–6 days). One baby each developed caecal and sigmoid perforation. Barium enemas in three babies without complete intestinal obstruction suggested Hirschsprungs disease in two. Following resuscitation, the two infants who had perforated had caecostomy and sigmoid repair with right transverse colostomy, respectively. One infant had ileostomy for total colonic aganglionosis associated with ileal atresia. All the others had initial diversion colostomy. Rectal biopsies confirmed Hirschsprungs disease in all the babies. The ileum was injured during colostomy in one case, requiring repair. Postoperative anastomotic leakage occurred in the infant with ileal injury and colostomy necrosis occurred in another infant. Five babies (33%) died, three from overwhelming infection (caecal perforation, sigmoid perforation, ileal injury), one from hypokalaemia (ileostomy) and one from an unidentified cause. Few cases of Hirschsprungs disease present in the newborn period in our environment and, when they do, they usually present with complete intestinal obstruction with high morbidity and mortality.

Amputation of the penis by human bite : a case report

A 3-year-old boy had his penis amputated by being bitten by a neglected psychiatric individual and presented late with urethral stricture. Initially, he had suprapubic diversion of urine and later meatoplasty. A plea is made for vigilance with children and appropriate care of individuals with psychiatric problems.