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Implantation of Total Artificial Heart in Congenital Heart Disease
Published on: July 18, 2014
A reflection of Africa's cardiac surgery capacity to manage congenital heart defects: a perspective
Wireko A Awuah1, Favour T Adebusoye1, Jack Wellington2
1Sumy State University, Sumy, Ukraine.
Insights
Congenital heart defects (CHDs) significantly impact infants in Africa, with high mortality rates due to limited access to essential cardiac surgery. Addressing these challenges is crucial for improving survival and quality of life for affected children.
Area of Science:
- Cardiology
- Pediatrics
- Public Health
Background:
- Congenital heart defects (CHDs) are significant birth abnormalities affecting heart structure and function.
- Surgery is vital for the survival and quality of life of 70% of infants with CHDs.
- Africa faces a high burden of CHDs, with over 500,000 cases annually, leading to 300,000 infant deaths due to inadequate healthcare access.
Purpose of the Study:
- To highlight the prevalence and impact of congenital heart defects in Africa.
- To identify the barriers to accessing essential cardiac surgical care for infants in the region.
- To underscore the need for improved healthcare infrastructure and resources for managing CHDs in Africa.
Main Methods:
- Review of global and African CHD statistics.
- Analysis of factors contributing to high CHD prevalence in Africa, including maternal infections.
- Examination of socioeconomic and infrastructural challenges impacting surgical interventions.
Main Results:
- CHDs are particularly pronounced in Africa, exacerbated by maternal infectious diseases.
- Access to affordable and secure cardiac surgical therapy is a major issue in low- and middle-income African countries.
- Lack of trained personnel, specialized equipment, and diagnostic facilities further hinders CHD management.
Conclusions:
- Urgent interventions are needed to address the high mortality rate of CHDs in Africa.
- Improving access to specialized cardiac care, training, and infrastructure is critical.
- Collaborative efforts are essential to overcome the financial and logistical barriers to CHD treatment in the region.
Abstract:
Congenital heart defects (CHDs) are birth abnormalities that may drastically alter the structure and functionality of the heart. For 70% of infants with congenital disorders to survive or maintain a better quality of life, surgery is necessary. Over 500 000 of the 1.5 million CHD cases reported annually, or 1% of all live births, occur in Africa, according to the WHO. A surmounted 90% of these patients are from Africa, and as a consequence, 300 000 infants die annually as a result of poor care or difficulty accessing adequate healthcare. However, the high prevalence of CHDs, precipitated by a plethora of aetiologies worldwide, is particularly pronounced in Africa due to maternal infectious diseases like syphilis and rubella amongst the pregnant populace. In low- and middle-income countries, especially in Africa, where foreign missions and organizations care for the majority of complicated cardiac surgical patients, access to secure and affordable cardiac surgical therapy is a substantial issue. Interventions for CHDs are very expensive in Africa as many of the continent's domiciles possess low expenditures and funding, thereby cannot afford the costs indicated by associated surgical treatments. Access to management and healthcare for CHDs is further hampered by a lack of trained surgical personnel, specialized tools, infrastructure, and diagnostic facilities in Africa.
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