scholarly journals Socioeconomic restraints and brain tumor surgery in low-income countries

2018 ◽  
Vol 45 (4) ◽  
pp. E11 ◽  
Author(s):  
Ahmed E. Helal ◽  
Heba Abouzahra ◽  
Ahmed Abdelaziz Fayed ◽  
Tarek Rayan ◽  
Mahmoud Abbassy
Keyword(s):  
Low Income ◽  
Average Length ◽  
Tumor Resection ◽  
Healthcare Spending ◽  
Low Income Countries ◽  
Morbidity Rate ◽  
Average Length Of Stay ◽  
Intraoperative Management ◽  
Serious Disease ◽  
Craniotomy For Tumor Resection

Healthcare spending has become a grave concern to national budgets worldwide, and to a greater extent in low-income countries. Brain tumors are a serious disease that affects a significant percentage of the population, and thus proper allocation of healthcare provisions for these patients to achieve acceptable outcomes is a must.The authors reviewed patients undergoing craniotomy for tumor resection at their institution for the preceding 3 months. All the methods used for preoperative planning, intraoperative management, and postoperative care of these patients were documented. Compromises to limit spending were made at each stage to limit expenditure, including low-resolution MRI, sparse use of intraoperative monitoring and image guidance, and lack of dedicated postoperative neurocritical ICU.This study included a cohort of 193 patients. The average cost from diagnosis to discharge was $1795 per patient (costs are expressed in USD). On average, there was a mortality rate of 10.5% and a neurological morbidity rate of 14%, of whom only 82.2% improved on discharge or at follow-up. The average length of stay at the hospital for these patients was 9.09 days, with a surgical site infection rate of only 3.5%.The authors believe that despite the great number of financial limitations facing neurosurgical practice in low-income countries, surgery can still be performed with reasonable outcomes.

scholarly journals Epidemiology of Pediatric Surgical Conditions Observed in a First-Level Hospital in Burundi

2021 ◽  
Vol 9 ◽  
Author(s):  
Marianna Gortan ◽  
Paola Caravaggi ◽  
Giulia Brooks ◽  
Jean Marie Vianney Butoyi ◽  
Sylvestre Bambara ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Low Income ◽  
Average Length ◽  
Pediatric Population ◽  
Head Injuries ◽  
Surgical Care ◽  
Low Income Countries ◽  
Diagnostic Tools ◽  
Average Length Of Stay ◽  
Surgical Conditions ◽  
Level Hospital

Background: Little is known about the surgical conditions affecting the pediatric population in low-income countries. In this article we describe the epidemiology of pediatric surgical diseases observed in Mutoyi hospital, a first-level hospital in Burundi.Methods and Findings: We retrospectively reviewed the records of all children (0–14 years) admitted to the Surgery ward from January 2017 to December 2017. We also reviewed the records of all the patients admitted to the Neonatology ward in 2017 and among them we selected the ones in which a surgical diagnosis was present. Five hundred twenty-eight children were admitted to the surgical ward during the study period. The most common conditions requiring hospitalization were abscesses (29.09%), fractures (13.59%), osteomyelitis (9.76%), burns (5.40%) and head injuries (4.36%). The average length of stay was 16 days. Fifty-six newborns were admitted to the Neonatology ward for a surgical condition; 29% of them had an abscess.Conclusions: Conditions requiring surgical care are frequent in Burundian children and have a completely different spectrum from the western ones. This is due on one side to an under-diagnosis of certain conditions caused by the lack of diagnostic tools and on the other to the living conditions of the population. This difference should lead to intervention plans tailored on the actual necessities of the country and not on the western ones.

Awake Surgical Management of Third Ventricular Tumors: A Preliminary Safety, Feasibility, and Clinical Applications Study

2019 ◽  
Vol 17 (2) ◽  
pp. 208-226 ◽  
Author(s):  
Srikant S Chakravarthi ◽  
Amin B Kassam ◽  
Melanie B Fukui ◽  
Alejandro Monroy-Sosa ◽  
Nichelle Rothong ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
General Anesthesia ◽  
Average Length ◽  
Third Ventricle ◽  
Significant Risk ◽  
Significant Risk Factor ◽  
Cognitive Outcomes ◽  
Cognitive Changes ◽  
Average Length Of Stay ◽  
Intraoperative Management ◽  
Average Operative Time

AbstractBACKGROUNDEndoscopic and microneurosurgical approaches to third ventricular lesions are commonly performed under general anesthesia.OBJECTIVETo report our initial experience with awake transsulcal parafascicular corridor surgery (TPCS) of the third ventricle and its safety, feasibility, and limitations.METHODSA total of 12 cases are reviewed: 6 colloid cysts, 2 central neurocytomas, 1 papillary craniopharyngioma, 1 basal ganglia glioblastoma, 1 thalamic glioblastoma, and 1 ependymal cyst. Lesions were approached using TPCS through the superior frontal sulcus. Pre-, intra-, and postoperative neurocognitive (NC) testing were performed on all patients.RESULTSNo cases required conversion to general anesthesia. Awake anesthesia changed intraoperative management in 4/12 cases with intraoperative cognitive changes that required port re-positioning; 3/4 recovered. Average length of stay (LOS) was 6.1 d ± 6.6. Excluding 3 outliers who had preoperative NC impairment, the average LOS was 2.5 d ± 1.2. Average operative time was 3.00 h ± 0.44. Average awake anesthesia time was 5.05 h ± 0.54. There were no mortalities.CONCLUSIONThis report demonstrated the feasibility and safety of awake third ventricular surgery, and was not limited by pathology, size, or vascularity. The most significant factor impacting LOS was preoperative NC deficit. The most significant risk factor predicting a permanent NC deficit was preoperative 2/3 domain impairment combined with radiologic evidence of invasion of limbic structures – defined as a “NC resilience/reserve” in our surgical algorithm. Larger efficacy studies will be required to demonstrate the validity of the algorithm and impact on long-term cognitive outcomes, as well as generalizability of awake TPCS for third ventricular surgery.

scholarly journals Treatment of Prolactinomas in Low-Income Countries

2015 ◽  
Vol 2015 ◽  
pp. 1-5
Author(s):  
Ivan Kruljac ◽  
Lora Stanka Kirigin ◽  
Mateja Strinović ◽  
Jelena Marinković ◽  
Hrvoje Ivan Pećina ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Low Income ◽  
Tumor Resection ◽  
Low Income Countries ◽  
Surgical Removal ◽  
First Line ◽  
Complete Tumor Resection ◽  
Remission Rates ◽  
First Line Treatment ◽  
Complete Tumor

Purpose. In low-income countries, prolactinomas are difficult to manage with dopamine agonists (DA). We compared the effectiveness of DA in microprolactinomas as a first line treatment and as adjuvant therapy for residual macroprolactinomas treated surgically.Methods. Our retrospective study analyzed 78 patients, 38 with microprolactinomas and 40 with macroprolactinomas. Microprolactinomas were treated with DA. Macroprolactinomas were treated with microsurgical or endoscopic adenomectomies and adjuvant DA. Surgical remission was defined as normoprolactinemia three months postoperatively, and long-term remission as normoprolactinemia at the last control.Results. Surgical remission was achieved in 9 patients (23%). Postsurgical tumor mass was reduced by 50% (34–68). Residual macroprolactinoma size was greater than microprolactinoma size prior to treatment (10 mm versus 4 mm,P<0.001). Both groups received similar doses of DA. Long-term remission occurred in 68% of microprolactinomas and 43% of macroprolactinomas (P=0.102). Prolactin (PRL) levels at the last control were similar in both groups (23.1 versus 32.9 mcg/L,P=0.347).Conclusion. Comparable remission rates and PRL levels were reached in microprolactinomas and macroprolactinomas using similar doses of DA. Although complete tumor resection is the goal of surgery, our study suggests that even partial surgical removal has a role in treatment of prolactinomas since it may enhance the response to DA.

Three Cases of Joubert Syndrome in a Consanguineous Syrian Family and a Interesting Case of Multinational Collaboration

2021 ◽  
Author(s):  
Davor Petrović ◽  
Vida Čulić ◽  
Zofia Swinderek-Alsayed
Keyword(s):  
Low Income ◽  
Autosomal Recessive ◽  
Autosomal Recessive Disorder ◽  
Joubert Syndrome ◽  
Interesting Case ◽  
Low Income Countries ◽  
Ocular Motor ◽  
Quality Health Care ◽  
Quality Health ◽  
Motor Apraxia

AbstractJoubert syndrome (JS) is a rare congenital, autosomal recessive disorder characterized by a distinctive brain malformation, developmental delay, ocular motor apraxia, breathing abnormalities, and high clinical and genetic heterogeneity. We are reporting three siblings with JS from consanguineous parents in Syria. Two of them had the same homozygous c.2172delA (p.Trp725Glyfs*) AHI1 mutation and the third was diagnosed prenatally with magnetic resonance imaging. This pathogenic variant is very rare and described in only a few cases in the literature. Multinational collaboration could be of benefit for the patients from undeveloped, low-income countries that have a low-quality health care system, especially for the diagnosis of rare diseases.

Reviewing the Development of Rural Finance in Vietnam

2013 ◽  
pp. 121-136
Author(s):  
Duong Pham Bao
Keyword(s):  
Low Income ◽  
Financial System ◽  
Low Income Countries ◽  
Supply Side ◽  
New Paradigm ◽  
Rural Finance ◽  
Market Mechanisms ◽  
Rural Credit ◽  
Rural Organizations ◽  
Doi Moi

The objective of this article is to review the development of the rural financial system in Vietnam in recent years, especially, after Doi moi. There are two opposite schools of thought in the literature on rural credit policies in developing countries. One is the conventional supply-side (government-led) approach while the other is called “a new paradigm” that emphasizes the importance of the viability of financial providers and the well functioning of rural credit markets. Conventional theories of rural finance contend that rural finance in low-income countries is generally accompanied by many failures. Contrary to these theories, rural finance in Vietnam does not encounter the above-mentioned failures so far. Up to the present time, it is progressing well. Using a supply-side approach, methodologically, this study reviews the development of the rural financial system in Vietnam. The significance of this study is to challenge the extreme view of dichotomizing between the old and the new credit paradigms. Analysis in this study contends that a rural financial market that, (1) is initiated and spurred by government; (2) operates principally under market mechanisms; and (3) is strongly supported by rural organizations (semi-formal/informal institutions) can progress stably and well. Therefore, the extremely dichotomizing approach must be avoided.

Abdominal Textiloma Mimicking as Left Colic Tumour: A Postoperative Complication Still Common in Low-Income Countries

EMJ Radiology ◽  
2020 ◽  
Keyword(s):  
Low Income ◽  
Early Stage ◽  
Low Income Countries ◽  
Fistula Formation ◽  
Emergency Laparotomy ◽  
Intermittent Fever ◽  
Gastrointestinal Complications ◽  
Surgical Safety ◽  
Surgical Teams ◽  
Safety Rules

Retained foreign bodies have become very rare in countries where the safety rules in the operating theatre are very rigorous and follow precise guidelines. There are low-income countries where hospital structures are precarious, in which the implementation of surgical safety rules has only been effective recently. Surgical teams in these countries are not yet well trained in the observance of the guidelines concerning swab count, meaning that textilomas are not uncommon. Abdominal textiloma may be asymptomatic, or present serious gastrointestinal complications such as bowel obstruction, perforation, or fistula formation because of misdiagnosis. It may mimic abscess formation in the early stage or soft tissue masses in the chronic stage. This case report presents a 27-year-old female who underwent an emergency laparotomy in a rural surgical centre for an ectopic pregnancy. Two months later, a swelling had appeared on the left side of her abdomen, gradually increasing in size, which was not very painful but caused digestive discomfort and asthenia. Intermittent fever was described and treated with antibiotics. The patient was referred to a better equipped centre to benefit from a CT scan. A textiloma was strongly suspected on the CT but a left colic mass was not excluded. Laparotomy confirmed the diagnosis of textiloma and the postoperative course was uneventful. Prevention rules must be strengthened in these countries where patients can hardly bear the costs of iterative surgeries for complications that are avoidable.

Assessment of knowledge and practice of vaccination of dogs against rabies by dog owners in Makurdi, Benue State, Nigeria

2020 ◽  
Vol 1 ◽  
pp. 5
Author(s):  
Audu Onyemocho ◽  
Agwa Moses ◽  
Aboh Kisani ◽  
Omole Namben Victoria ◽  
Anejo-Okopi Joseph
Keyword(s):  
Low Income ◽  
Life Time ◽  
Knowledge Score ◽  
Educational Status ◽  
Low Income Countries ◽  
Bivariate Analysis ◽  
Cross Sectional ◽  
Knowledge And Practice ◽  
Dog Owners ◽  
The Relationship

Objective: Rabies, one of the oldest and fatal infectious diseases known to human race, is transmitted by infected dogs. The global target of zero dog-mediated rabies human deaths has been set for 2030; however, the realization of this goal poses challenges in most low-income countries where rabies is endemic due to weak surveillance. Dogs have been increasingly deployed for domestic uses over the years, especially for security purposes. This study assessed the assessment of knowledge and practice of vaccination of dogs against rabies by dog owners. Materials and Methods: A cross-sectional community-based study was employed to study 400 dog owners in Makurdi metropolis through multistage sampling techniques. Sighting of valid dog vaccination card was used as criteria for current vaccination. Bivariate analysis was carried out to establish the relationship between the respondent knowledge of rabies and dog vaccination with significant value set at P < 0.05. Results: The mean age of the respondents was 31 (Â ± 0.8) years, majority of them had tertiary and secondary education (40.0% and 39.0%, respectively), 26.0% were traders, and 50.0% were married. Overall, 73.0% of the respondents had good knowledge score, 61.0% had seen at least a rabid dog in their life time, and 74.0% have a history of dog vaccination, but evidence of up to date vaccination of dogs by owners was seen in only 18.0% of all the vaccination cards sighted. The relationship between the educational status of the respondents, their knowledge score, and their dog vaccination was statistically significant (P < 0.05). Conclusion: Knowledge of rabies among dog owners in Makurdi was good, but the practice of dog vaccination was poor. Educational status was a good predictor of practice. Awareness campaign on dog vaccination should be strengthened and adequate measures should be put in place at the veterinary hospitals in Makurdi for vaccination of dogs.

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