title: Non-trauma surgical emergencies in adults: Spectrum, challenges and outcome of care.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Significant deaths of between 21% and 38% occur from non-trauma surgical conditions in the accident and emergency room. Access to emergency surgical care is limited in many developing countries including Nigeria. We aimed to study the spectrum of non-trauma surgical emergencies, identify challenges in management and evaluate outcomes.
  
  
  METHODS
  A one year prospective cohort study of all non-trauma emergencies in adults seen at the surgical emergency room of LASUTH from 1st October, 2011 to 30th September, 2012 was conducted. Data was analyzed using SPSS version 15.0.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Of a total of 7536 patients seen, there were 7122 adults. Those with non-trauma conditions were 2065 representing 29% of adult emergencies. Age ranged between 15 and 97 years and male to female ratio was 1.7:1. Acute abdomen (30%), urological problems (18%) and malignancies (10%) were the most common. Among 985 patients requiring admission only 464 (47%) were admitted while the remaining 53% were referred to other centers. Emergency surgical intervention was carried out in 222 patients representing 48% of admitted patients. There were 12 (24%) non-trauma deaths in the emergency room. They were due to acute abdomen and malignancies in half of the cases.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Facilities for patients needing emergency care were inadequate with more than half of those requiring admission referred. Attention should be paid to the provision of emergency surgical services to the teeming number of patients seen on yearly basis in the Teaching Hospital.
authors.affiliation: Department of Surgery, Lagos State University Teaching Hospital (LASUTH), P.M.B. 21105, Ikeja, Lagos, Nigeria.
authors.forename: N A
authors.initials: NA
authors.lastname: Ibrahim
authors.affiliation: Department of Surgery, Lagos State University Teaching Hospital (LASUTH), P.M.B. 21105, Ikeja, Lagos, Nigeria.
authors.forename: M A
authors.initials: MA
authors.lastname: Oludara
authors.affiliation: Department of Surgery, Lagos State University Teaching Hospital (LASUTH), P.M.B. 21105, Ikeja, Lagos, Nigeria.
authors.forename: A
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Ajani
authors.affiliation: Department of Surgery, Lagos State University Teaching Hospital (LASUTH), P.M.B. 21105, Ikeja, Lagos, Nigeria.
authors.forename: I
authors.initials: I
authors.lastname: Mustafa
authors.affiliation: Department of Surgery, Lagos State University Teaching Hospital (LASUTH), P.M.B. 21105, Ikeja, Lagos, Nigeria.
authors.forename: R
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Balogun
authors.affiliation: Department of Surgery, Lagos State University Teaching Hospital (LASUTH), P.M.B. 21105, Ikeja, Lagos, Nigeria.
authors.forename: O
authors.initials: O
authors.lastname: Idowu
authors.affiliation: Department of Surgery, Lagos State University Teaching Hospital (LASUTH), P.M.B. 21105, Ikeja, Lagos, Nigeria.
authors.forename: R
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Osuoji
authors.affiliation: Department of Surgery, Lagos State University Teaching Hospital (LASUTH), P.M.B. 21105, Ikeja, Lagos, Nigeria.
authors.forename: F O
authors.initials: FO
authors.lastname: Omodele
authors.affiliation: Department of Surgery, Ladoke Akintola University Teaching Hospital (LAUTECH), P.M.B. 2000, Ogbomoso, Oyo State, Nigeria.
authors.forename: A O A
authors.initials: AO
authors.lastname: Aderounmu
authors.affiliation: Department of Surgery, Lagos State University Teaching Hospital (LASUTH), P.M.B. 21105, Ikeja, Lagos, Nigeria.
authors.forename: B A
authors.initials: BA
authors.lastname: Solagberu
keywords: Emergencies; Facility; Non-trauma; Outcome; Spectrum