Jean Claude Ambassa,MD*, Alfred  Kongnyuy,SRN*, Fanka Marcel, SRN*, Jacques Cabral Tantchou,MD, PHD*,  Charles Mve Mvondo,MD*, Silvia Cirri,MD,PHD**, Alessandro Giamberti,MD**, Gianfranco Butera,MD,PHD**

Authors’ affiliation :

*ST. ELIZABETH CATHOLIC GENERAL HOSPITAL SHISONG CARDIAC CENTRE (Cameroon).

**DEPARTMENT OF PEDIATRIC CARDIOLOGY AND CARDIAC SURGERY SAN DONATO (Italy).

Objective: To report Shisong Cardiac Centre experience of learning and growth in congenital Cardiac catheterization.

Background: Seven years ago Shisong Cardiac Centre was designed with the fruit of North to south collaboration between the tertiary sisters of Saint Francis and Bambini Cardiopatici nel mondo ONLUS. Since June 2010, the laboratory  cardiac catheterization with a flat panel Siemens angiocardiography was inaugurated with the main objective of managing  congenital heart diseases.

Method: A retrospective review of challenges and successes in patients with congenital anomalies who underwent cardiac catheterization  from June 2010 to Dicember 2017.

Results: 165 Congenital percutaneous procedures were done, representing 32.9% of total cardiac catheterization activities (501). 79 (15.6%) were diagnostic and 86 (17.5%) were interventional procedures respectively. Disease variations for interventional included; PDA : 47 (9.5% ) Pulmonary Stenosis: 25 ( 5.1%), ASD II :3(0.6% ), Aortic Coarctation: 3(0.6%),Vessels  Stenting: 5 (1.0%) and complications (Device embolization): 3(0.6%). Thirty-day Mortality rate stood at 1 (6,4/1000). According to financial estimations, 62.7% of the patients were sponsored by our Heart’s Foundation, whereas 37.3 % represent both self-financed and insurance companies sponsorship.

Discussion: Late presentation at procedures and financial hardship on the part of the population, availability of consumables, human resources, and technical difficulties are the main factors that have characterized our experience.

Conclusion: Cardiac catheterization in congenital pathologies is a success story in Cameroon with low to middle income survival.  Challenges are evitable. A collaborative approach, patient education and government assistance are key roles to sustainability.

Key Words: Cardiac Catheterization, Congenital Heart Diseases, Learning Curve.