Urological emergencies at the University of Abuja Teaching Hospital Gwagwalada, Nigeria: Spectrum and initial outcome

Abstract

Introduction:Urological emergencies are urologic conditions that may require urgent treatment.With the exception of acute urinary retention, urological emergencies are not common compared to other fields of medicine.Immediate management of urologic emergencies will forestall complications.

Aims and Objectives: To present the spectrum of urological emergencies and the initial outcome in the emergency unit.

Methods: This is a prospective study carried out in the emergency department of UATH. The authors conducted a 6month study starting from January 2014. Data collected were age, sex,working diagnosis and initial outcome in the emergency room within the first 24 hours.

Results:A total of 92 patients were seen, most of them (65.2%) were above 40 years.The majority of the patients (53.3%) had acute urinary retention.The conditions that presented as emergencies were benign prostatic enlargement (42.4%), prostate cancer (16.3%), genitourinary infections (13.1%), urethral stricture diseases (9.8%), urolithiasis (3.3%), testicular torsion (9%). Of these patients, 51.1% were admitted for further treatment while 44.6% were treated and discharged from the emergency room.

Conclusion: Acute urinary retention was the commonest urological emergency in our center. The incidence of benign prostatic enlargement was quite high. The large number of patients discharged from the emergency room after treatment implied they could have had medical attention at other nearby health facilities and not overburdens the emergency services at our center which is a referral center or perhaps they preferred the services in our center.

Keywords: Urological emergencies,emergency room,acute urinary retention.