Initial Experience with Open Heart Surgery in Sub-Saharan Africa: Challenges in Mali with Minimum Standards for Practice

Introduction: There has been limited experience with Open Heart Surgeries (OHS) in Sub-Saharan Africa. In west Africa especially in Mali, most fledgling centers are unable to overcome the myriad of challenges encountered in establishing OHS though there is a high prevalence of surgically correctable heart diseases. The aim of this paper is to review our initial experience of our first cases in developing OHS program and discuss the challenges and prospects that need to be overcome to further develop it. Methods: A total of 6 patients who underwent OHS during the first “cardiac mission” in July 2016 were included in this retrospective study. The medical records of the patients were examined and data on age, sex, diagnosis, EuroSCORE, type of surgery, cardiopulmonary bypass details, complications and length of hospital stay were extracted. Results: Six patients with a male to female ratio of 1, ages ranging between 12 and 35 years (mean of 22.5 ± 12 years) were studied. The mean of EuroSCORE was 6 ± 41. Pericardial patch closure of isolated atrial septal defect was performed in one patient. One patient had mitral valve repair for rheumatic mitral regurgitation consisting of chordal shortening with a tricuspid valvuloplasty. Three patients had mitral valve replacement with tricuspid valvuloplasty. Four patients had mitral valve replacement. Sixty-day mortality was 0%. Conclusion: Safe conduct of open heart surgery in Mali Hospital setting is feasible. Grant financial aid is required for rapid growth of Open-Heart Surgery in this part of Sub-Saharan Africa.