The objective of this work is to study the prevalence of digestive surgical emergencies in the surgical department of the Amissa Bongo Regional Hospital in Franceville, Gabon. This was a descriptive retrospective study of patients operated on for digestive surgical emergencies over a four-year period (September 2015 to August 2019).

During the study period, 451 digestive emergencies were operated on. The mean age was 35.32 ± 15.24. The most common digestive emergency was peritonitis (30.82%). The 15-30 age group was the most affected (37.92%). Appendicitis with a frequency of 19.73% (n = 89) was the second most common emergency with a high frequency in men. Acute bowel obstruction accounted for 14.19% (n = 64) of abdominal emergencies. Patients from Franceville were the most represented with 48.3%, followed by those from Moanda with a frequency of 23.7%, then from Koulamoutou (7.22%) and Okondja (5.64%).

Digestive surgical pathologies exist in our environment. An early diagnosis would improve care to reduce morbidity and mortality in our region.

Keywords: Prevalence, emergencies, surgical, digestive, regional hospital, Franceville Gabon.

1. Harissou A. Ibrahim AM. Oumarou H. et al. Retard diagnostique et implication pronostique en milieu africain : cas des urgences en chirurgie digestive à l’Hôpital national de Zinder, Niger. Eur Sci J. 2015 : 11:251–62
2. Mabiala-Babela JR. Pandzou N. Koutaba E. et al. Étude rétrospective des urgences chirurgicales viscérales de l’enfant au CHU de Brazzaville (Congo). Med Trop. 2006 : 66:172–6
3. Dossouvi T. Ajavon DRD. Logbo-Akey E. Dosseh ED. Urgence chirurgicales digestives et grossesse au CHU-Kara (Togo). Rev Afr chir Special. 2018 : 12 :1
4. Kambire JL Sanon BG. Zare C. Kambou T. Etiologies et pronostic des urgences chirurgicales digestives au Centre hospitalier Universitaire de Bobo-Dioulasso (Burkina Faso). J Rech Sci Univ Lom. 2017 : 19 : 3.
5. Saunders DI. Murray D. Pichel AC. et al. UK Emergency Laparotomy Network. Variations in mortality after emergency laparotomy: the first report of the UK Emergency Laparotomy Network. Br J Anaesth. 2012 : 109: 368–75
6. Saunders DI. Murray D. Pichel AC. et al. UK Emergency Laparotomy Network. Variations in mortality after emergency laparotomy: the first report of the UK Emergency Laparotomy Network. Br J Anaesth. 2012 : 109:368–75
7. Vester-Andersen M. Lundstrøm LH. Møller MH. et al. Mortality and postoperative care pathways after emergency gastrointestinal surgery in 2,904 patients: a population-based cohort study. Br J Anaesth. 2014 : 112:860–70
8. Ahmed A. Dauda M. Garba S. Ukwenya Y. Emergency abdominal surgery in Zaria, Nigeria. S Afr J Surg. 2010 : 48:59–62
9. Hadley GP. Intra-abdominal sepsis — epidemiology, aetiology and management. Semin Pediatr Surg. 2014 : 23:357–62
10. Memon AA. Siddiqui FG. Abro AH. et al. An audit of secondary peritonitis at a tertiary care university hospital of Sindh, Pakistan. World J Emerg Surg. 2012 : 7:6
11. Afridi SP. Malik F. Ur-Rahman S. et al. Spectrum of perforation peritonitis in Pakistan: 300 cases Eastern experience. World J Emerg Surg. 2008 : 3:31
12. Doklestić SK. Bajec DD. Djukić RV. et al. Secondary peritonitis— evaluation of 204 cases and literature review. J Med Life. 2014 : 7:132–8
13. Sani R. Ngo Bissemb NM. Bade MA. et al. Les contusions de l’abdomen. Revue de 360 dossiers à l’Hôpital national de Niamey: Niger. Med Afr Noire. 2004 : 51:505–8
14. Riché FC. Dray X. Laisné MJ. et al. Factors associated with septic shock and mortality in generalized peritonitis: comparison between community-acquired and postoperative peritonitis. Crit Care. 2009 : 13:R99
15. Ndour O. Facteurs de mortalité néonatale dans le service de chirurgie pédiatrique du CHU Aristide LE Dantec de Dakar. Rev Mali Méd. 2009 : 24:33–38.

Silvère OFFOBO NGAKANI

Centre Hospitalier Régional Amissa Bongo de Franceville