EPIDEMIOLOGY OF PEDIATRIC SURGICAL CONDITIONS OBSERVED IN A RURAL TERTIARY CARE HOSPITAL

Abstract

Background: Little is known about the surgical conditions affecting the Pediatric population in developing countries. Data on the spectrum of surgical diseases and the burden of Pediatric surgical diseases on health systems are lacking. In this article we describe the epidemiology of Pediatric surgical diseases observed in our rural tertiary care hospital. Methods: We retrospectively reviewed the records of all children (0–14 years) admitted to the Pediatric ICU from January 2020 to October 2022. We also reviewed the records of all the patients admitted to the Neonatal ICU and among them we selected the ones in which a surgical diagnosis was present. Four hundred fty three children were admitted to Pediatric ICU and four hundred and sixty six babies were admitted to neonatal ICU during the study period. Results: 453 children were admitted to pediatric ICU of which 183 were surgical cases and 466 babies were admitted to NICU of which 2 were surgical cases. Males were 122 (66%) and females were 63 (34%). Largest number 114 (62%) of patients were in the age group 0-5 years followed by 6-10 years age group 53 (28%).The highest number of admissions were for the OMFS; cleft lip 44(24%), cleft palate 25(14%), followed by genitourinary system which included hydrocele 11(6%) and inguinal hernia 11(6%), undescended testis 6(3%), hypospadias 5(2.7%) followed by Neurosurgery cases which included hydrocephalus 11(6%), and subdural hematoma 2(1%). GI conditions were acute appendicitis with appendicular perforation 10(5.4%), cholelithiasis 3(1.6%) and small bowel obstruction 2(1%) Conclusion: Surgical conditions are important part of pediatric and neonatal care.Management of congenital surgical condition is important to decrease infant and under ve mortality and other comorbidities as well. In developing countries, surgical care for children should be considered an important part of child health programs