Commentary: Worldwide disparities in cardiac surgical care: Thinking globally not locally to solve problems of limited resources and access to specialized care

Tetralogy of Fallot in Low- and Middle-Income Countries

Low- and middle-incomes countries (LMICs) have limited resources for the diagnosis and treatment of congenital heart diseases such as tetralogy of Fallot. This is in part due to lack of infrastructures, financial means, and expertise. As a result, patients undergo surgery much later than in high-income countries. This delay in treatment results in right ventricular dysfunction, cardiac arrhythmias, and poor psychomotor development-complications that are all related to chronic hypoxia. There are limited data and a few small studies of patients treated for tetralogy of Fallot in LMICs, and, therefore, the aim of this review is to analyse and summarize the surgical outcomes of this LMIC population.

Viral cardiovascular surgical diseases: global burdens, challenges and opportunities

Globally, more than one billion people are vulnerable to neglected tropical diseases, many of which have viral origins and cardiovascular implications. Access to cardiovascular care is limited in countries where these conditions are endemic. Six billion people lack access to safe, timely and affordable cardiac surgical care, whereby over 100 countries and territories lack a single cardiac surgeon. Moreover, while clinically unique, the surgical consequences of neglected cardiovascular diseases with viral origins have been poorly described in the current literature. This review provides an overview of the global burden of viral cardiovascular disease, describes access to cardiac surgical care in regions where these conditions are endemic, and further highlights surgical consequences and considerations to manage patients requiring cardiac surgical care.

Developing a cardiac surgery unit in the Caribbean: A reflection

BACKGROUND AND AIM

Access to specialized cardiac surgery is a problem in emerging countries. Here, we reflect on the approach we used to establish a cardiac surgery unit in Trinidad and Tobago.

METHODS

The program started in 1993 with monthly visits by a team from Bristol Heart Institute. A group of local doctors, nurses, and perfusionists were identified for training, and a senior nurse moved to the island to start a teaching program. The visiting support was gradually reduced, and the local team gained independence in managing the service in 2006.

RESULTS

The initial low volume surgery increased to around 380 cases a year with the implementation of comprehensive service in 2006. Most patients required coronary artery bypass graft (CABG). In-hospital mortality declined from 5% in the nascent years to below 2% thereafter. In the last 5 years (2015-2019), 1764 patients underwent surgery (mean age 59.6 ± 10.8 years, 66% male). The majority were East-Indian-Caribbean (79.1%) or Afro-Caribbean (16.7%), half had diabetes, and two-thirds hypertension (EuroScore II 1.8 ± 1.9). The majority (1363 patients) underwent CABG (99.5% off-pump; conversion to on-pump 1.5%). The mean number of grafts was 2.5 ± 0.7 with 98.5% and 23.1% receiving one and two or more arterial grafts, respectively. In-hospital mortality was 1.1%, re-exploration for bleeding 2%, stroke 0.1%, mediastinitis 0.2%. The length of the postoperative hospital stay was 5.8 ± 2 days.

CONCLUSION

Frequent outside visits complemented by training in an overseas center, and transfer of knowledge proved to be an effective strategy to develop a cardiac surgery unit in an emerging country with results comparable to accepted international standards.