Urological Surgeries in a West African Teaching Hospital

Introduction: Urological surgeries are a significant part of surgical services. The need for these services varies regionally and globally. Knowledge of the local need is important for prioritisation of resources.

Objectives: To describe the urological procedures done in our hospital for effective utilisation of the already scarce resource in this region.

Patients and methods: This was a retrospective one-year study of the urosurgical cases done in a Nigerian Teaching Hospital. The main theatre register was used to collate data. Data collected included age, sex, operation done and anaesthesia employed.

Results: One hundred and twenty-two male and three female patients were included with a male-to-female ratio of 41:1. The mean age of the patients was 56.6 ± 19.89 years. Elective cases accounted for 102 (81.6%) of surgeries. Regional anaesthesia was the most common form of anaesthesia accounting for 105 (84%) followed by local anaesthesia in 16 (12.8%). Day cases accounted for 77 (61.6%) of procedures. More than 80% of the study population was 50 years and older. Overall, the three most common performed surgeries were digital-guided prostate biopsy 47 (37.6%), suprapubic cystostomy 16 (12.8%) and open prostatectomy 9 (7.2%). In male patients, the three most common procedures were prostate biopsy 47 (38.5%), suprapubic cystostomy 16 (13.1 %), open prostatectomy 9 (7.4%) whereas nephrectomy, pyeloplasty and stent removal each accounted for 33.3% each of procedures in female patients. Endourological procedures accounted for 5 (4%) of cases.

Conclusion: Open surgeries accounted for the majority of these cases done with prostate-related procedures being the most common procedures. Few endourological procedures were performed.