Evaluation of epidemiologic indices of neonate’s diseases in the Pediatric Surgery Ward of the Ahvaz Jundishapur University hospitals during the period 1993–1996 and 2002–2005

Abstract

Introduction and aim The neonatal period is a critical time for infants, and 2/3 of first-year mortality occurs during this period. In developing countries, surgical diseases are the most important cause of neonatal mortality. Mortality was reduced in the past decade due to the availability of well-trained pediatric surgeons and the development of sophisticated instruments. The aim of this study was to show neonatal mortality and other indices in the period when there were no pediatric surgeons compared with the period when pediatric surgeons were available. Patients and methods This retrospective study was conducted in the Imam Khomeini and Abuzar Hospital during the period 1993–1996 and 2002–2005. All neonates admitted in the surgical wards of the Imam Khomeini and Abuzar Hospital were included in this study. Only cases of those patients who died before data accumulation was completed or discharged against medical advice were excluded from our study. In the first period, no pediatric surgeon was available and all surgeries were performed by general surgeons. In the second period, pediatric surgeons were available. Data were statistically analyzed and χ²-test was used to compare noncategorical data. A P value of less than 0.05 was considered to be significant. This study was approved by the ethics committee of the hospital, and no intervention was used. Results In our study, 88 cases (males = 60.2%, female =39.8%) in the first period and 452 cases (males =61.7%, females= 38.3%) in the second period were included. The mean age at admission time in the first and second period was 6 days for both groups. The mean weights in the first and second period were 2886 ±766 g and 2915± 658 g, respectively. The mean lengths of hospital stay in the first and second period were 5 days and 10.5 days, respectively. In the first period, 68 cases (37.3%) were admitted in the first 7 days of life and 54 cases (61.4%) had a birth weight of 2500–3500 g. Of the 88 cases, 40 cases died (45.5%). In the second period, 353 cases (78.1%) were admitted in the first 7 days of life and 278 cases (61.5%) had a birth weight of 2500–3500 g. Of the 452 cases, 101 cases died (22.3%). Conclusion In our study, the most common surgical diseases in both the periods were imperforate anus, esophageal atresia with or without tracheoesophageal fistula (TEF), Hirschsprung’s disease, and jejunoileal atresia; these were similar to results found in other studies.

Keywords: Hirschsprung’s disease, imperforate anus, inguinal hernia, pediatric, surgery