Evidence map›Paper›PMID 41196805›Full record

ReviewBrazilian journal of cardiovascular surgery2026

Challenges to Open-Heart Surgery in Sub-Saharan Africa: A Narrative Review.

Victory Bassey Effiom, Abdullah K Alassiri, Victor Femi-Lawal, Eben-Ezer Genda, Jonas Lotanna Ibekwe, Achanga Bill-Smith Anyinkeng, Olalekan Kolawole Victor, Echieh C Peter

Abstract readReview
PubMed Full text at PMC Publisher
In one paragraph

Review in Brazilian journal of cardiovascular surgery, 2026. The graph could read no effect estimate from its abstract, so it casts no vote on the map. Cited by 1 paper.

0numbers the graph read from it
0cells of the map it votes in
1citing papers in PubMed
–field-weighted citation impact
1 · What the graph read from it

What it found

Each row is one number read from the abstract, on the scale the paper reported it, with its interval. Left of the dashed line favours the treatment, right favours the comparator. Under each row is the sentence it came from. New to these charts? A ten-minute tutorial.

The abstract states no effect estimate the extractor could read, or names no intervention and outcome on the map, so this paper lights no cell and moves no belief. It is still indexed, cited and linked below.

2 · The registry

The trial behind it

Trials whose registry record cites this paper, or whose number appears in the abstract. A trial that started after this paper was published is citing it as background, not reporting it.

Neither the registry nor the abstract names a trial number. If this is a trial report, that itself is worth knowing.

3 · Its place in the literature

Who cites it

1 citing paper in PubMed.

  1. Review
4 · The record

Corrections and comments

PubMed lists nothing against this paper. Absence here is not a guarantee, only a check that was made.

5 · Who and what money

Authors and funding

8 authors.

Victory Bassey EffiomUniversity of Calabar Faculty of Clinical Sciences Calabar Cross River Nigeria Faculty of Clinical Sciences, University of Calabar, Calabar, Cross River, Nigeria.
Abdullah K AlassiriKing Abdulaziz University Faculty of Medicine Jeddah Saudi Arabia Faculty of Medicine, King Abdulaziz University, Jeddah, Saudi Arabia.
Victor Femi-LawalUniversity of Ibadan Faculty of Clinical Sciences Oyo State Nigeria Faculty of Clinical Sciences, University of Ibadan, Oyo State, Nigeria.
Eben-Ezer GendaOfficial University of Bukavu Faculty of Health Sciences Bukavu Democratic Republic of Congo Faculty of Health Sciences, Official University of Bukavu, Bukavu, Democratic Republic of Congo.
Jonas Lotanna IbekweUniversity of Ibadan Faculty of Clinical Sciences Oyo State Nigeria Faculty of Clinical Sciences, University of Ibadan, Oyo State, Nigeria.
Achanga Bill-Smith AnyinkengUniversity of Buea Faculty of Health Sciences Buea Cameroon Faculty of Health Sciences, University of Buea, Buea, Cameroon.
Olalekan Kolawole VictorUniversity of Ibadan Faculty of Clinical Sciences Oyo State Nigeria Faculty of Clinical Sciences, University of Ibadan, Oyo State, Nigeria.
Echieh C PeterUniversity of Calabar Division of Cardiothoracic Surgery Department of Surgery Calabar Cross River Nigeria Division of Cardiothoracic Surgery, Department of Surgery, University of Calabar, Calabar, Cross River, Nigeria.

Funding

No grant is acknowledged in the PubMed record.

6 · The paper itself

Abstract

The rising cardiovascular disease burden in Africa necessitates a strengthened healthcare system including enhanced access to cardiac surgery, the definitive treatment for several surgical cardiovascular diseases. Though open-heart surgery, the most invasive type of cardiac surgery, was already possible in Africa over five decades ago, with pioneering surgeons performing atrial septal defect repairs via surface cooling in Ghana as early as 1964, its development across the continent has been hindered by significant challenges. This study highlights the challenges faced by both established and nascent open-heart surgery programs across Africa. We further identify key areas for sustaining and expanding open-heart surgery programs, including robust training for surgeons and support staff, resource allocation, and enhanced capacity building. By systematically analyzing the landscape of open-heart surgery in Africa, this paper proposes a multifactorial approach to overcome these limitations and ensure equitable access to this life-saving intervention for a vastly underserved population.

Indexed as

Cardiac Surgical ProceduresAfrica South of the SaharaHealth Services AccessibilityHumansAfricaCardiac SurgeryChallengesOpen-Heart Surgery

Identifiers

PMID41196805
PMCPMC12599830

What OpenQuestion holds

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Registered trials

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Read under generation 80e0d062 · epoch 390. Bibliography from PubMed, PubMed Central and OpenAlex; grants from NIH RePORTER; trial links from ClinicalTrials.gov; estimates, votes and beliefs from the OpenQuestion graph.