Challenges of practicing neuro-endovascular interventions in a resource-limited country; Ghana in focus

Objective: Now is the time to reflect on the situation of neuro-endovascular interventions (NEVT) in Africa, particularly Ghana, and to renew our commitment to provide high-quality health care to our people. This evaluation is significant because it seeks to assess progress toward our goals and identify potential obstacles for remedial action and to highlight the challenges of NEVT in Ghana. Methods: Retrospective review of all endovascular treatments performed between January 1, 2019, and December 31, 2021, at two Ghanaian hospitals. A descriptive analysis was done having entered data in Microsoft Excel utilizing frequencies and percentages. Four experienced specialist radiologists discussed NEVT issues in Ghana. The fishbone diagram was used to depict the challenges and problems of NEVT practices in Ghana. Results: From January 2019 to December 2021, 278 patients’ records were analyzed at two Ghanaian hospitals. The majority of patients (71.9%) had digital subtraction angiography of the head and neck. The high cost of medical supplies, lack of vendor interest, and limited awareness of symptoms by general practitioners were noted as obstacles associated with neuro-endovascular treatment in Ghana. Conclusion: Although the future of NEVT is bright, Interventional Neuroradiologists and other stakeholder need to make conscious effort to improve quality, accessibility, and cost of NEVT in Ghana.