The Need for Cardiac Surgery Missions in Gabon

Abstract

Cardio-vascular diseases have a significant and increasing surgical burden, particularly rheumatic heart diseases and congenital heart diseases in Gabon [1,2]. Currently with about 20 cardiologists, cardiovascular surgeons in training, three thoracic surgeons, two cardiac anesthesiologists fully trained and two cardiac anesthesiologists still in training, the cardiothoracic and vascular surgery team is incomplete. Challenges are also related to lack of training staff such as perfusionists, technician anesthetists, physiotherapists and inalhotherapists and difficulties getting consumables.