Aims and objectives: To present a 5 years experience on the pattern and outcome of emergency operations in a new teaching hospital.
Materials and methods: A retrospective study carried out between April 1998 and March 2003 with appropriate data extracted from the available case notes.
Results: Two thousand and seventy operations were performed within the period of study. Seven hundred and twenty six of them were done as emergency. Obstetrics' and Gynaecology cases were 66.6% while 33.4% (including six cases of perforated uterus and gangrenous bowel from unsafe abortion) belong to the general surgery and specialty emergencies. Waiting time, mean of which was 39.5+/-2.7 hours, was unduly prolonged. Mortality was 10.3%.
Conclusion: The high morbidity and mortality as reflected in this study could be reduced through prompt surgical interventions, education on contraceptive awareness and legistilation against unsafe abortion.