Lower gastrointestinal endoscopy in Enugu, Nigeria: an experience with 151 cases

Abstract

Background: Lower Gastrointestinal endoscopy is useful in the evaluation and treatment of many lower gastrointestinal diseases. There has been no report on indications and outcomes of diagnostic lower gastrointestinal endoscopy in the South Eastern part of Nigeria

Aim: To determine the indications and findings in patients who had lower gastrointestinal endoscopydonein a private hospital in Enugu, south-eastern, Nigeria.

Patients and Methods: A retrospective cohort study of patients who had lower gastrointestinal endoscopy between January 2012 and October 2015 at the study hospital was carried out. The medical records were reviewed to evaluate the indications and outcomes of the procedure.

Results: A total of 151 patient records were reviewed. Males constituted 74.8% and females constituted 25.2% of the subjects giving a male: female ratio of 3:1. The ages ranged from 6-92 years with a median of 60 years. The commonest indication for the procedure was bleeding per rectum 81(53.6%) followed by constipation 15(10%) and unexplained anaemia 8 (5.3%). There was no request for routine screening colonoscopy. The most frequent findings were haemorrhoids 56 (37.1%), colorectal polyps 22 (14.6%), diverticulosis 15 (10%) and colorectal cancer 9(6%).Ulcerative colitis was seen in 1 patient (0.7%).However, 38(25.2%) of the patients hadnormal findings.

Conclusion: The commonest indication for lower gastrointestinal endoscopy in the studied hospital was bleeding per rectum while the commonest finding was haemorrhoids. Routine screening colonoscopy was nonexistent in this population.

Keywords: Lower gastrointestinal endoscopy, Indications, Findings