Mve Mvondo C1,2,3, Anshoma H1, Ela Bella A2, Ngo Yon LC2,3, Kobe Folkabo Z2, Ambassa JC1, Tantchou Tchoumi C1, Ngatchou Djomo W4, Njock LR3.
1- Division of cardiac surgery, Shisong Cardiac Center, Kumbo, Cameroon.
2- Division of thoracic and cardiovascular surgery, Yaoundé General Hospital, Yaoundé, Cameroon.
3- Department of surgery, Faculty of Medicine and Biomedical Sciences, University of Yaoundé l, Yaoundé, Cameroon.
4- Department of surgery, Faculty of Medicine and Pharmaceutical Sciences, University of Douala, Douala, Cameroon.
Correspondance: Dr Charles MVE MVONDO, Yaoundé General Hospital, Yaoundé, Cameroon.
Tel : 00237-677804863. E-mail : [email protected]
SUMMARY
Introduction: congenital heart disease (CHD) continues to represent a significant contributor to childhood morbidity and mortality in sub-Saharan Africa, where delayed diagnosis and restricted access to specialized cardiac surgery remain major challenges. This study aims to evaluate the early outcomes of CHD surgery performed at a single referral center in Cameroon.
Material and Methods: a retrospective review was performed including all patients who underwent surgical correction of CHD between november 2009 and january 2026 at our institution. Cardiac defects were grouped according to major diagnostic categories. Demographic data, operative parameters, and early postoperative outcomes were collected and analyzed.
Results: overall, 424 patients were included in the study. The mean age at surgery was 5.0 ± 3.0 years (range 0.4–65.0 years), and the male-to-female ratio was 0.82. The diagnoses were ventricular septal defect (n=140, 33.0%), Tetralogy of Fallot (n=112, 26.4%), patent ductus arteriosus (n=85, 20.0%), atrial septal defect (n=64, 15.1%), complete atrioventricular septal defect (n=16, 3.7%), and coarctation of the aorta (n=7, 1.6%). The median length of intensive care stay was 2.3 days. Early mortality occurred in 5.1% of cases.
Conclusion : in this substantial single-center experience from Cameroon, early surgical outcomes were satisfactory despite delayed presentation. Efforts to promote earlier detection and timely referral are critical to further improving congenital cardiac care in this setting.
Key words: pediatric cardiac surgery, congenital heart disease, tetralogy of Fallot, ventricular septal defect, shisong cardiac center, Cameroon.