Postoperative complications of the abdominal surgery in patients of the Regional Hospital of Malanje, Angola

Abstract

Background: postoperative complications are adverse events of a very frequent variable nature, associated with a bad evolution. Objective: to describe characteristics of patients who presented with postoperative complications of abdominal surgery, treated in the surgical service of the Malanje Regional Hospital, Angola, in the period from 1 August 2021 to 31 March 2022. Methods: a descriptive cross-sectional observational study was performed in patients undergoing abdominal surgery, in the hospital and time period declared in the objective. The sample consisted of 68 patients with a complete record of the information necessary for the investigation, excluding patients who presented with anaesthetic and cardiovascular complications. The variables assessed included sex, age, type of surgery, postoperative complications and associated diseases. Descriptive statistics was applied for data analysis. Results: males (67.6 %) and groups over 55 years (32.4 %) and 41-55 years (25 %) were more affected. There was a marked prevalence of emergency operations (82.4 %). Infection of the operative site predominated (50 %) as the main complication, followed by dehiscence of the suture (20.6 %). Anemia (47.1 %) and caloric protein malnutrition (25 %) were found to be the most common associated diseases. Conclusions: we described characteristics of patients who underwent abdominal surgery, operated mainly by emergencies and having the infection of the operative site as the main complication.

Keywords

• complicaciones posoperatorias
• abdomen
• cirugía general