title: [Retrospective study of visceral surgical emergencies in children at the University Hospital Center of Brazzaville (Congo)].
abstract: The purpose of this study was to estimate the Incidence of visceral surgical emergencies In children and to determine the main causes and their prognoses. A retrospective study was carried out among children ranging from 1 month to 15 years who underwent emergency visceral surgery in the pediatric surgery unit of the University Hospital Center in Brazzaville, Congo. A total of 185 of the 206 children (14.1%) admitted for emergency visceral surgery were included In the study. The study population was predominantly male (67%). Most patients (71.3%) were over 5 years of age. The main indications for visceral surgery were acute appendicitis (30.3%), peritonitis (28.1%), strangulated hernia (22.2%), abdominal contusion (7.6%), intussusception (6.4%), other causes of intestinal obstruction (2.7%), and abdominal wounds (2.7%). Peritonitis was due to ruptured appendix in 76.9% of cases. Strangulated hernias were inguinal in 70.7% of cases and wnbilical in 29.3%. Intussusception was idiopathic in all cases and usually observed in infants under 6 months of age (58.3%). Postoperative recovery was uneventful in 79.5% of cases and complicated in 16.2%. EIght deaths (4.3%) were recorded. For the patient that died, the delay between initial symptoms and admission was longer than 3 days in 87.5% of cases and the interval for surgical treatment was longer than 6 hours in all cases. Early diagnosis and prompt surgical treatment are favorable prognostic factors for the outcome of emergency visceral surgery.
authors.affiliation: Service de pédiatrie-nourrissons, Centre Hospitalier Universitaire, Brazzaville, Congo. j.mabiala.babela@caramail.com
authors.forename: J R
authors.initials: JR
authors.lastname: Mabiala-Babela
authors.forename: N
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Pandzou
authors.forename: E
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Koutaba
authors.forename: S
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Ganga-Zandzou
authors.forename: P
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Senga
mesh_terms: D000208:Acute Disease; D000293:Adolescent; D001064:Appendicitis / Q000601:surgery*; D002648:Child; D002675:Child, Preschool; D003223:Congo; D004638:Emergency Treatment; D005260:Female; D059685:Herniorrhaphy; D006785:Hospitals, University; D006801:Humans; D007223:Infant; D007410:Intestinal Diseases / Q000601:surgery*; D008297:Male; D010538:Peritonitis / Q000601:surgery*; D012189:Retrospective Studies