Non-traumatic abdominal surgical emergencies in children in Dapaong (TOGO)

Abstract

IntroductionSurgical abdominal emergencies in children are responsible for high morbidity and mortality. They are numerous and their management in Africa is difficult. The management of non-traumatic abdominal emergencies in children in a regional hospital in Togo is described. Methodand study setting: This was a single-center, retrospective and descriptive study conducted over a 12-month period. It included all children aged 0–15 years treated at the hospital for non-traumatic abdominal surgical emergencies. ResultsWe reported 217 cases of non-traumatic abdominal surgical emergencies in children. We noted a male predominance with a sex ratio of 1.57. Similarly, grandchildren were predominant (44.70 %). A low school attendance rate was noted (21.20 %) and the children were mostly from poor families (32.72 %). The average consultation time was 5.3 ± 1.03 days. Pain was the main symptom and was present in all children. An unprepared abdominal X-ray was the main imaging procedure performed (77.18 %). These conditions were dominated by peritonitis (56.68 %). These were mainly ileal perforations. All the children received surgical treatment. The postoperative course was marked by complications in 104 children (47,93 %) and 14 deaths (6,45 %). ConclusionNon-traumatic abdominal surgical emergencies in children are dominated by peritonitis in rural Togo. They could be related to poverty. An effective policy of universal access to health care is essential.