Upper Gastrointestinal Endoscopy - Our Findings, Our Experience in Lagoon Hospital, Lagos, Nigeria

Abstract

Background : Upper gastrointestinal (UGI) endoscopy is a safe and sensitive investigation in the diagnosis of upper gastrointestinal disease. There are few reports on endoscopy in private institutions in Nigeria; therefore we decided to report our early experience in a private health facility in Lagos, Nigeria. Aim: This study aims to document the indications and common findings in UGI endoscopy and evaluate the relationship between H pylori and endoscopic findings. Methods: The indications for UGI endoscopy and findings detected over a 3-year period were analyzed. Results: The commonest symptoms were epigastric pain, other upper abdominal pain, and dyspepsia while common signs were epigastric and right upper quadrant tenderness, and epigastric mass. Complete data was obtained in 172 patients of which 114 had abnormal findings. The commonest were duodenal ulcer, gastritis and duodenitis. Less common findings were gastric ulcer, gastric cancer and oesophageal cancer. There was no significant difference in the frequency of H. pylori infection between those with normal and abnormal endoscopic findings. Conclusion: The commonest indication for UGI endoscopy in Lagos, Nigeria is dyspepsia while the commonest endoscopic abnormalities are duodenal ulcer, gastritis and duodenitis.