Paediatric Surgical Services in a New Private Tertiary Health Facility in South West Nigeria: Early Experiences and Preliminary Outcomes
Lere P. Oluwadare *
Division of Early Childhood Development, Neurology and Infectious Diseases, Department of Paediatrics, Redeemer’s Health Village, Redemption City, Mowe, Ogun State, Nigeria.
Sampson C. Aliozor
Division of Paediatric Surgery, Department of Surgery, Redeemer’s Health Village, Redemption City, Mowe, Ogun State, Nigeria.
Adebowale T. Odunafolabi
Division of General and Laparoscopic Surgery, Department of Surgery, Redeemer’s Health Village, Redemption City, Mowe, Ogun State, Nigeria and Department of Surgery, Faculty of Clinical Sciences, College of Medicine, Afe Babalola University, Ado-Ekiti, Nigeria.
Samuel T. Oladejo
Division of Orthopaedic and Trauma Surgery, Department of Surgery, Redeemer’s Health Village, Redemption City, Mowe, Ogun State, Nigeria.
Adedamola A. Dada
Division of Orthopaedic and Trauma Surgery, Department of Surgery, Redeemer’s Health Village, Redemption City, Mowe, Ogun State, Nigeria.
Joshua O. Awofeso
Department of Radiodiagnosis, Redeemer’s Health Village, Redemption City, Mowe, Ogun State, Nigeria.
Pauline K. Akowundu
Division of Neonatal Medicine, General Paediatrics and Adolescent Medicine, Department of Paediatrics, Redeemer’s Health Village, Redemption City, Mowe, Ogun State, Nigeria.
Oluwapelumi O. Olusoga-Peters *
Department of Otorhinolaryngology, Olabisi Onabanjo University Teaching Hospital, Sagamu, Ogun State, Nigeria and Division of Otorhinolaryngology, Department of Surgery, Redeemer’s Health Village, Redemption City, Mowe, Ogun State, Nigeria.
*Author to whom correspondence should be addressed.
Abstract
Background: About a third of the global burden of disease is estimated to be surgical. Surgical conditions are common in the paediatric age group, making paediatric surgical care an important component of global health. The study aimed to describe the spectrum of paediatric surgical conditions presenting to a new tertiary healthcare facility, as well as the nature of the procedures performed and their outcomes.
Materials and Methods: This was a retrospective, descriptive, hospital-based, single-centre study involving a review of all paediatric surgical cases managed over an 18-month period at a new private tertiary healthcare facility in South West Nigeria. Data on patients’ demographics, indications for surgical intervention, procedures performed, and outcomes were extracted from electronic medical records and analysed using descriptive statistics.
Results: A total of 68 patients underwent 68 surgical procedures during the study period. The majority were male (58/68; 85.3%), giving a male-to-female ratio (M:F) of 5.8:1.0. Intact prepuce requiring circumcision accounted for the highest number of cases (28/68; 41.2%), followed by obstructive adenoidal disease (7/68; 10.3%), hernia (3/68; 4.4%), and ankyloglossia (3/68; 4.4%). Most procedures (59/68; 86.8%) were elective, while 37 (54.4%) were minor procedures performed as day cases. One post-operative death was recorded, giving an overall survival rate of 98.5%.
Conclusion: This small, single-centre study provides an overview of the spectrum of paediatric surgical presentations and procedures encountered during the early experience of a new private tertiary healthcare facility in South West Nigeria. The findings suggest that a range of paediatric surgical conditions can be managed with favourable outcomes when appropriately identified and promptly treated. The small sample size and single-centre retrospective design limit the generalisability of the findings. Larger, multicentre studies would provide a more comprehensive understanding of paediatric surgical patterns and outcomes in the region.
Keywords: Paediatric surgery, surgical conditions, surgical outcomes, tertiary healthcare, Nigeria, sub-Saharan Africa