Causes and management of intestinal obstruction at The University of Nigeria Teaching Hospital Enugu

Abstract

Aim: To review the incidence, aetiology and management of intestinal obstruction at the University of Nigeria Teaching Hospital (UNTH) Enugu. Patients and Methods: A retrospective review of all patients admitted into UNTH, diagnosed and treated as intestinal obstruction, over a 5 years period (January 1989 to December 1993). Results: Ninety five (95) cases were recorded during the study period, made up of 62 males and 33 females. The main causes of obstruction were adhesions (58), volvulus (11), intussusception (10) and hernias (9). Seventy seven patients were managed for acute obstruction while 18 were managed as subacute obstruction. Large bowel obstruction occurred in 15 patients (15.8%) and small bowel obstruction was recorded in 80 patients (84.2%). Surgical intervention was carried out in 79 patients (83.2%) while 16 patients (16.9%) responded to conservative management There was no mortality. Conclusion: The pattern of small bowel obstruction at the University of Nigeria Teaching Hospital Enugu is similar to that in the west though that of large bowel obstruction maintains the African pattern. This is probably due to the tertiary nature of the institution since only very intractable cases are referred.

Keywords

• intestinal obstruction
• incidence
• aetiology
• management
• unth enugu.