Acute Intestinal Obstruction in El Obeid Hospital, Western Sudan.

Abstract

Objectives: To study the pattern, causes and management outcomes of acute
intestinal obstruction in El Obeid Teaching Hospital, Western Sudan.
Patients and Methods: This is a descriptive retrospective study. The medical
records of all patients admitted to the University Surgical Unit in El Obeid Teaching Hospital, with the diagnosis of acute intestinal obstruction in a 10-year period were studied. The data were analyzed for gender, locality, causes, operative findings and outcomes.
Results: There were 198 patients (152 males and 46 females). The age ranged from one day to 85 years with the mean age of 38.9 ± SD 21.9 years. Strangulated external hernias
were the commonest cause (35.6%), followed by intestinal adhesions (18.2%) and sigmoid volvulus (11.6%). Indirect inguinal hernias were more frequently seen (70%), followed by para-umbilical (22.9%). Previously performed emergency operations as appendecectomy, Caesarean section and abdominal trauma were the commonest causes of intestinal adhesions. The overall mortality was 13.6%, mainly due to late presentation and scarce health facilities.
Conclusions: Acute intestinal obstruction is a serious surgical emergency. In the current situation, the hospital facilities were scarce. A welcoming health delivery system providing mass elective hernia repair with health education will reduce this mortality and a lot of unnecessary morbidity.

Keywords: bowel obstruction, strangulated hernia, sigmoid volvulus, intussusception, postoperative adhesions, Western Sudan.

Sudan Journal of Medical Sciences Vol. 3 (3) 2008: pp. 191-196