PATTERNS, TREATMENT OUTCOMES AND ASSOCIATED FACTORS OF ADMISSIONS TO PEDIATRIC SURGICAL WARD IN St PAUL’s HOSPITAL MILLENIUM MEDICAL COLLEGE

Abstract

ABSTRACT Background: Pediatric surgery is a sub specialty of surgery involving the surgery of fetuses, infants, children, adolescents, and young adults. Pediatric surgical care has evolved from easy surface procedures in to in utero surgery. It has grown across the globe including Sub Sahara Africa but has associated enormous problems as it is a new field of specialty for developing countries. Objectives: The aim of this research is to assess the patterns, treatment outcomes and associated factors of admission to pediatric surgical ward in St Paul’s Hospital Millennium Medical College from April 15 to May 20, 2010. Methods: A one year retrospective cross sectional review of medical records of surgical pediatric patients whose age is below 15 years who were admitted and treated at St Paul’s Hospital Millennium Medical College between November 2016 and May 2018 using systematic random sampling method. Data collectors extracted data from included patient’s chart using a structured questionnaire. Collected data was analyzed using SPSS 23. Frequencies and proportions were used for the descriptive analysis of the data. Chi-square test was used to determine associations among different variables. Finally using multinominal regression the significance of the association was determined. Result: A total number of 273 patients were included in this study with predominant sex being male (with M: F ratio of 2.4:1) and mean age of 65 months. Most patients were from Addis Ababa (48%) with majority being Oromo in ethnicity (63.4%). Most patients (59%) were admitted as emergency cases with the most common affected system being Gastrointestinal (60.1%) then Genitourinary (34.4%) and Musculoskeletal (4%) diseases with the highest being appendicitis (34.8%). Admissions rose to a major peak in March (megabit) both 2009&2010. 79.9% of patients had improved and discharged outcomes while 19% had complications and 1.1% patients died. The most common complication observed was surgical site infection. Delayed presentation has been associated as one of the strong complicating factor. Conclusion: The present study has shown there is highest rate of emergency admission which is affecting the gastrointestinal system with delay in presentation affecting treatment outcome significantly.