Pattern of Paediatric Surgical Admissions in a Tertiary Hospital in a Semi – Urban Community in the Niger Delta: a Three- Year Review

Aims: To determine the pattern of surgical diseases among children on admission at the Niger Delta University Teaching Hospital, Okolobiri, Bayelsa State, Nigeria.
Study Design: A retrospective study.
Place and Duration of Study: All patients admitted into the children surgical ward of the Niger Delta University Teaching hospital between January, 2009 and December, 2011 were studied retrospectively.
Methodology: Essential information was obtained from ward admissions register and patients’ case notes and recorded in a pro forma.
Results: There were a total of 201 paediatric surgical admissions during the period. The mean age was 4.9± 4.3 years. There were 135 (67.2%) males and 66 (32.8%) females, giving a Male: Female ratio of 2:1. The commonest diagnoses at admission were congenital anomalies 76 (37.8%), trauma 57 (28.4%), surgical infections 27 (13.4%), gastrointestinal conditions 25 (12.5%), and others 16 (8.0%). The mean duration of admission was 8.6±11.2 days. There were 4 deaths giving an overall mortality of 1.99%.
Conclusion: There is a broad spectrum of surgical childhood conditions requiring admission. We need improved paediatric surgical manpower and a dedicated paediatric surgical unit to manage these conditions.