Aetiologies of non-traumatological abdominal surgery emergencies in butembo, democratic republic of congo

Background: Abdominal pains constitute 5-10% of admissions in emergency unit. Vital emergencies represent 1% of abdominal emergencies.

Aim: This study aimed to determine the prevalence and aetiologies of non-traumatological abdominal surgery emergencies in Butembo, Democratic Republic of Congo.

Methods: This was a prospective cross sectional study conducted in four hospitals of Butembo (Cliniques Universitaires du Graben, Matanda hospital, GRH of Katwa and Kitatumba) from October 15th, 2013 to April 14th, 2014.

Result: A total of 1058 patients were admitted in Surgery departments of the four hospitals, patients from whom 203 were operated for urgent non-traumatic abdominal pathologies. The mean age was 30.2 and principal aetiologies of non-traumatological abdominal surgery emergencies were appendicitis (47.8%), peritonitis (21.2%) and intestinal occlusions (19.2%).

Conclusion: This study helped to know frequent aetiologies of non-traumatological abdominal surgery emergencies in Butembo as out of the situations of immediate gravity, a good knowledge of the most frequent pathologies allows, in the majority of the cases, to decide the most suitable management. Appendice affections constitute the frequent abdominal surgical emergencies. Performing its earliest diagnosis would be better.