title: Occurrence of Lutembacher syndrome in a rural regional hospital: case report from Buea, Cameroon.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Lutembacher syndrome (LS) is a rare cardiac clinical entity marked by the combination of an atrial septal defect (ASD) and mitral stenosis (MS). Its prognosis is influenced by several factors.
  
  
  METHODS
  We present the case of a young adult male who presented with a 10-month history of exertional dyspnea, orthopnoea, fatigue and cough. Clinical examination revealed features suggestive of advanced congestive heart failure. Echocardiography revealed severe MS and a secundum type ASD with pulmonary hypertension. Patient died on second day of admission.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  LS is a very rare condition. The outcome is better if treated before the onset of heart failure and pulmonary hypertension. However, surgical and percutaneous trans-catheter therapy is costly and not readily available in low-income settings in developing countries.
authors.affiliation: 1 Department of Internal Medicine, Faculty of Health Sciences, University of Buea, Buea, Cameroon ; 2 Department of Internal Medicine, General Hospital Douala, Douala, Cameroon ; 3 St Elisabeth Catholic General Hospital, Cardiothoracic Centre, Shisong, Cameroon.
authors.forename: Leopold N
authors.initials: LN
authors.lastname: Aminde
authors.affiliation: 1 Department of Internal Medicine, Faculty of Health Sciences, University of Buea, Buea, Cameroon ; 2 Department of Internal Medicine, General Hospital Douala, Douala, Cameroon ; 3 St Elisabeth Catholic General Hospital, Cardiothoracic Centre, Shisong, Cameroon.
authors.forename: Anastase T
authors.initials: AT
authors.lastname: Dzudie
authors.affiliation: 1 Department of Internal Medicine, Faculty of Health Sciences, University of Buea, Buea, Cameroon ; 2 Department of Internal Medicine, General Hospital Douala, Douala, Cameroon ; 3 St Elisabeth Catholic General Hospital, Cardiothoracic Centre, Shisong, Cameroon.
authors.forename: Noah F
authors.initials: NF
authors.lastname: Takah
authors.affiliation: 1 Department of Internal Medicine, Faculty of Health Sciences, University of Buea, Buea, Cameroon ; 2 Department of Internal Medicine, General Hospital Douala, Douala, Cameroon ; 3 St Elisabeth Catholic General Hospital, Cardiothoracic Centre, Shisong, Cameroon.
authors.forename: Jean Claude
authors.initials: JC
authors.lastname: Ambassa
authors.affiliation: 1 Department of Internal Medicine, Faculty of Health Sciences, University of Buea, Buea, Cameroon ; 2 Department of Internal Medicine, General Hospital Douala, Douala, Cameroon ; 3 St Elisabeth Catholic General Hospital, Cardiothoracic Centre, Shisong, Cameroon.
authors.forename: Sylvester Y
authors.initials: SY
authors.lastname: Mapoh
authors.affiliation: 1 Department of Internal Medicine, Faculty of Health Sciences, University of Buea, Buea, Cameroon ; 2 Department of Internal Medicine, General Hospital Douala, Douala, Cameroon ; 3 St Elisabeth Catholic General Hospital, Cardiothoracic Centre, Shisong, Cameroon.
authors.forename: Jacques Cabral
authors.initials: JC
authors.lastname: Tantchou
keywords: Cameroon; Lutembacher syndrome (LS); Mitral stenosis (MS); atrial septal defect (ASD)