Log in to email corresponding author
|
Cite this article:
Tantchou Tchoumi Jaques Cabral,Ambassa Jean Claude,Butera Gianfranco. Pregnancy follow-up in a patient with mechanical valve: possible in sub-Saharan Africa?. The Pan African Medical Journal. 2009;2:1 Key words: Pregnancy,mechanical prosthesis Permanent link: http://www.panafrican-med-journal.com/content/article/2/1/full Received: 13/11/2008 - Accepted: 21/02/2009 - Published: 06/03/2009 © Tantchou Tchoumi Jaques Cabral et al. The Pan African Medical Journal - ISSN 1937-8688. This is an Open Access article distributed under the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution License (http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/2.0), which permits unrestricted use, distribution, and reproduction in any medium, provided the original work is properly cited. |
Pregnancy follow-up in a patient with mechanical valve: possible in sub-Saharan Africa?
Jacques Cabral Tantchou Tchoumi1&, Jean Claude Ambassa1, Gianfranco Butera2
1Shisong Cardiac Centre, Kumbo, Cameroon; 2Istituto Policlinico San Donato, Milan, Italy
& Corresponding author
Tantchou Tchoumi Jacques Cabral; Cardiologist, MD, PhD, P.O Box 08 Kumbo, St. Elizabeth Catholic General Hospital, Cardiac Centre. Cameroon
Background
In Africa in general and in Cameroon in particular, post rheumatic cardiopathies are a health care problem, one of the causes of infertility in the women population and a major cause of death among children and adults. Management of a pregnant woman with mechanical heart valve is a complex issue for all health care providers involved in the care of such patients.
Patient and case report
Miss A is 26-years old and consulted for cardiac assessment; referred from Bamenda (North-West province of Cameroon) for better management of a cardiac problem including arrhythmia and a history of recurrent tonsillitis. The cardiac echo-dopplerography showed severe post-rheumatic mitral valve regurgitation with pulmonary hypertension and a dysfunctional left ventricle. The patient was later evacuated in a surgical centre in Milan San Donato (Italy) where a St. Jude mechanical heart valve N.27 was implanted. Two years after surgery, during a follow-up visit, the patient brought a pelvic ultrasound showing a single live intrauterine foetus, gestational age estimated at 7 weeks.
Conclusion
Management of mechanical valve in a pregnancy context, resulting in a favourable outcome (no thromboembolic events and the delivery of a healthy baby) is possible in sub-Saharan Africa. Close observation, adherence to existing clinical guidelines, patient cooperation and an appropriate technical infrastructure are critical factors to consider.
