The pattern of pediatric surgical conditions in Tikur Anbessa Unversity Hospital, Addis Ababa, Ethiopia.
OBJECTIVE
To assess the pattern and extent of pediatric surgical problems.


METHODS
A retrospective analysis of all pediatric patients who had surgery at the TAUH over a five-year period


RESULTS
A total of 6070 surgical procedures were done, accounting for 31% of all operations and 33% of all pediatric admissions to the hospital The patients were predominantly male (M:F ratio of 2:1) with a mean age of 68 months. Congenital anomalies, trauma and inflammation cause most of the diseases, 37%, 17.1% and 16.8% respectively. The gastrointestinal system was most commonly affected (41.8%) followed by the musculoskeletal system (23%). The study demonstrates the presence of a wide range of pediatric surgical conditions that may cause significant health problems among children. Acute appendicitis was the commonest surgical condition, seen in 729 (12%) children and foreign body aspiration or swallowing in 331 (5.5%) cases. Several diagnoses were related with poor surgical care such as: post burn contracture (177), post circumcision phimosis (71) and chronic osteomyelitis (71).


CONCLUSIONS
It is suggested that improving the management of pediatrics surgical conditions would significantly reduce morbidity.
Derbew
Miliard
M
Addis Ababa University, Medical Faculty, Pediatric Surgeon, P.O.BOX 5729, Addis Ababa, Ethiopia.
Ahmed
Elias
E
D002648:Child; D002675:Child, Preschool; D005002:Ethiopia / Q000453:epidemiology; D005260:Female; D006785:Hospitals, University; D006801:Humans; D007223:Infant; D007231:Infant, Newborn; D008297:Male; D010372:Pediatrics; D011787:Quality of Health Care; D013514:Surgical Procedures, Operative