Epidemiology and Pathophysiology of Acquired Heart Failures Amenable to Surgical Interventions in the Sub-Saharan Africa
Read full paper at: http://www.scirp.org/journal/PaperInformation.aspx?PaperID=47927#.VFbpm2fHRK0 Author(s) Kelechi E. Okonta Affiliation(s) Division of Cardiothoracic Surgery, Department of Surgery, University of Port Harcourt Teaching Hospital, Port Harcourt, Nigeria . ABSTRACT Heart failure (HF) is an important cause of morbidity and mortality in sub-Saharan Africa and indeed worldwide. The management of this condition has largely been thought to be within the domain of the Physician with the Surgeon having little or no role to play. The commonest cause of HF that may require surgical intervention is rheumatic valvular heart disease especially in the young age group while ischaemic heart disease still...