FMSZ 2026 Annual Congress Presentation by Dr S. Mukandiona

FMSZ 2026 Annual Congress Presentation by Dr S. Mukandiona

🎙 Dr S. Mukandiona 👥 2K 📅 October 21, 2026 ⏱ 22 min 👁 0 📄 expert opinion 🧭 2026-10-21
Available in: English (current) Français

Keywords

gastroschisisin-utero injectionbotulinum toxinZimbabweneonatal surgery

Summary

Dr Sandra Mukandiona presents a protocol for using in-utero botulinum toxin injection to manage gastroschisis in a low-resource setting, specifically in Zimbabwe. She begins by defining gastroschisis and highlighting the stark survival disparity: 90% in developed countries versus only 6% local survival (17 out of 257 cases from July 2024 to July 2026). The main causes of poor outcomes include delayed referrals, prolonged hospital stays, and complications like sepsis, malnutrition, and necrotizing enterocolitis. The proposed strategy involves ultrasound-guided injection of botulinum toxin into the fetal abdominal wall muscles to achieve relaxation and facilitate primary closure at birth. The procedure is planned for around 32 weeks gestation or at a fetal weight of 1500g, with an EXIT procedure at delivery. Detailed inclusion and exclusion criteria are outlined, along with multidisciplinary team roles and procedural steps. The presentation discusses potential risks, necessary resources, and ethical considerations, and suggests future extensions to other congenital defects and fetal surgeries. The goal is to improve outcomes and contribute to the global evidence base from Zimbabwe.

170 words

Critical Evaluation

Value of the Information & Strength of the Argument

The value of the information lies in its highly contextualized approach to a significant public health problem. The speaker presents local data showing a drastic gap in survival, making a strong case for novel, low-cost interventions. The argumentation is scientific: she reviews the pathophysiology, current management challenges, and the rationale for botulinum toxin based on its mechanism of action and existing uses in surgery. The protocol is detailed, with clear inclusion/exclusion criteria, procedural steps, and a multidisciplinary team approach, which adds credibility. However, the presentation is largely descriptive and does not yet include any outcome data from the protocol, so its efficacy remains unproven. The speaker acknowledges the experimental nature and the need for institutional approval and further research, which is honest and scientifically sound.

Scientific Rigor, Source Quality, Title Accuracy

The scientific rigor is moderate. The speaker cites a local study from 2013 (Mr. boy et al.) and mentions global incidence rates, but does not provide specific references or DOI links. The title accurately represents the content, and the presentation follows a logical structure. While the methodology is described in detail, the lack of pilot data and the small number of cases limit the strength of the conclusions. The speaker appropriately highlights the limitations and calls for further investigation, which reflects scientific integrity. The sources used are not explicitly listed in the description, but internal references are mentioned, and no external sources are provided. Overall, the title-content fit is excellent, and the scientific reasoning is sound, though verification of cited works would strengthen the presentation.

265 words

Title / Content Match

The title accurately reflects the content: a congress presentation by Dr S. Mukandiona on a specific fetal intervention.

Quality & Reliability

8/10

The presentation is a professional medical lecture detailing a novel protocol for in-utero botulinum toxin injection in gastroschisis, grounded in local statistics and existing literature. Limitations include lack of outcome data, small sample sizes, and the experimental nature of the intervention, but the methodology is transparent and logically structured.

Key Moments

Contribution & Novelties

The main novelty is the application of an established drug (botulinum toxin) for a novel intrauterine indication in a resource-limited setting, aiming to simplify postnatal closure and reduce mortality. The presentation also proposes a structured protocol adaptable to low-income countries, and highlights the importance of local data and capacity building.

Pour aller plus loin :

111 words

Radar Profile

The radar profile shows high scores for information quantity and quality, reflecting the detailed protocol and local data. Technical level is also high, but fiability (global reliability) is slightly lower due to the experimental nature and lack of outcome data. Overall, the presentation is scientifically sound but requires validation.

Reliability 7/10