Epidemiology of Surgical Emergencies in a University Hospital in Cameroon

Introduction: The aim of this study is to establish an epidemiological profile of surgical emergencies in a country with limited resources and to determine their prevalence and mortality. Methods: This was a retrospective descriptive study conducted between June 2023 and July 2024 at Laquintinie Hospital in Douala, Cameroon. All patients admitted to the hospital with a surgical emergency and who consented to participate in the study were included. Results: The emergency department recorded 11370 cases of surgical emergencies in all specialties, including 3517 cases, a prevalence of 31%. There were 2,472 men and 1045 women, with a male/female sex ratio of 2.4. The mean age was 38.74 ± 18.7 years. The most common age group was between 20 and 30 years (22%). The surgical emergency was traumatic in 2589 cases (73.6%) and atraumatic in 928 cases (26.4%). The three main reasons for consultation were, in order of frequency: pain and functional impotence in 927 cases (26.4%), post-traumatic loss of consciousness in 682 cases (19.4%) and acute abdominal pain in 439 cases (12.5%). Road traffic accidents accounted for 1938 cases (55.1%) of traumatic surgical emergencies. The surgical specialties most frequently requested for advice were orthopaedics and traumatology (30.4%), neurosurgery (24%), digestive surgery (23%). 64% of admitted patients were admitted to the operating theatre for surgery, with 32% undergoing damage control surgery and 68% undergoing early total care. The mortality rate is 7%, with deaths primarily attributable to haemorrhagic shock at 41.5%. Conclusion: The prevalence rate of surgical emergencies in Cameroon university hospitals is 31%. The mortality rate is 7%. The population most affected is young adults.