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Adult intestinal obstruction in Braithwaite Memorial Specialist Hospital, Port Harcourt, Nigeria: a 3-year review
Abstract
Background: Globally, intestinal obstruction is a common cause of acute abdomen and the pattern varies from place to place. This is a report of the pattern of adult intestinal obstruction in Braithwaite Memorial Specialist Hospital (BMSH), Port Harcourt, Nigeria.
Methods: A retrospective study of adult patients who presented with intestinal obstruction from 1st January 2008 to 31st December 2010. Their demographic data, duration of symptoms, length of stay in hospital before surgery ,intra operative diagnosis and outcome of treatment were recorded and analyzed using the Statistical Package for Social Sciences (SPSS) version 11.
Results: A total of 38 patients were studied. The male to female ratio was 2.2:1 and the mean age was 53.4±2.6 years. Obstructed hernia was the commonest cause which was found in 50% of the patients, followed by adhesions in 28.9% of the patients. The average duration of symptoms before presentation was 6.9±1.2 days and overall mortality rate was 13.2%.
Conclusion: Obstructed hernia still remains the commonest cause of intestinal obstruction among the studied population. However, its incidence is decreasing while that of adhesive intestinal obstruction is increasing.
Keywords: Intestinal obstruction, Adult, Braithwaite Memorial Specialist Hospital
Methods: A retrospective study of adult patients who presented with intestinal obstruction from 1st January 2008 to 31st December 2010. Their demographic data, duration of symptoms, length of stay in hospital before surgery ,intra operative diagnosis and outcome of treatment were recorded and analyzed using the Statistical Package for Social Sciences (SPSS) version 11.
Results: A total of 38 patients were studied. The male to female ratio was 2.2:1 and the mean age was 53.4±2.6 years. Obstructed hernia was the commonest cause which was found in 50% of the patients, followed by adhesions in 28.9% of the patients. The average duration of symptoms before presentation was 6.9±1.2 days and overall mortality rate was 13.2%.
Conclusion: Obstructed hernia still remains the commonest cause of intestinal obstruction among the studied population. However, its incidence is decreasing while that of adhesive intestinal obstruction is increasing.
Keywords: Intestinal obstruction, Adult, Braithwaite Memorial Specialist Hospital
