Acute intestinal obstruction in el Obeid hospital Western Sudan

Abstract EN

Objectives : To study the pattern, causes and management outcomes of acute intestinal obstruction in El Obeid Teaching Hospital, Western Sudan.

Patients and Methods : This is a descriptive retrospective study.

The medical records of all patients admitted to the University El Obeid Teaching Hospital, with the diagnosis of acute intestinal obstruction in a 10-year period were studied.

The data were studied analyzed for gender, locality, causes, operative findings and outcomes. Results : There were 198 patients (152 males and 46 females).

The age ranged from one day to 85 years with the mean age of 38.9 ± SD 21.9 years.

Strangulated external hernias were the commonest cause (35.6 %), followed by intestinal adhesions (18.2 %) and sigmoid volvulus (11.6 %).

inguinal hernias were more frequently seen (70 %), followed by para-umbilical (22.9 %).

Previously performed emergency operations as appendecectomy, Caesarean section and abdominal trauma were the commonest causes of intestinal adhesions.

The overall mortality was 13.6 %, mainly due to late presentation and scarce health facilities. Conclusions : Acute intestinal obstruction is a serious surgical emergency.

In the current situation, the hospital facilities were scarce.

A welcoming health delivery system providing hernia repair with health education will reduce this mortality and a lot of unnecessary morbidity.