Jejuno-Ileal Ruptures after Blunt Abdominal Trauma at the Teaching Hospital of Bouake

Objective: The aim of this study is to determine the causes, pattern, management, and outcome of jejunal-ileal rupture following blunt abdominal trauma at the teaching Hospital of Bouake. Methods: The study included 27 patients who underwent laparotomy for jejunoileal injuries from blunt abdominal trauma at the Teaching Hospital of Bouake over a period of 14 years from January 2007 to December 2020. A retrospective study was conducted and the patients were analyzed with respect to patient demographics data, cause, injury mechanisms, presentation, anatomical distribution, diagnostic methods, associated injuries, treatment and outcomes. Results: During the 14 year period from 2007 to 2020, 27 patients with blunt small bowel injuries were treated at our Teaching Hospital. That is 2.9% of all blunt abdominal trauma. Male to female ratio was 4.4:1 and the average age was 26.3 years (range: 15 and 50 years). The majority (66.7% 18 cases) were Victims of road traffic accident. Median delay between injury and arrival at hospital for these patients was 10.1 hours (range: 1 - 72 h). A single intestinal injury was present in 22 patients, while 5 patients suffered from 2 injuries. There were 32 perforations of the small intestine in 27 patients with two perforations being transection. All perforations were located on the antimesenteric border of the intestine. Out of the 32 jejuno-ileal ruptures 18 were located on the jejunum while 14 were located on the ileum. Associated intra-abdominal injuries were present in 6 patients and nineteen associated extra-abdominal injuries were present in 10 (70.4%) patients. A one-stage therapeutic strategy was performed in 20 cases (74.1%) and a two-stage strategy was performed in seven cases (25.9%). Intestinal continuity was restored 93.8 days later (range 60 and 140 days). The average length of hospital stay of the operated patients was 11.4 days. The operative morbidity was 25.9%. Conclusion: Jejuno-ileal ruptures are rare and characterized by a delay in management. An early diagnosis could improve the vital prognosis of the patients.

Acute Bowel Obstructions of the Elderly in a Low African Country

Background: Acute bowel obstruction is one of the main causes of non-traumatic gastro—intestinal surgical emergencies. When they occur in elderly patients, they seem to induce higher morbi-mortality. The aim of our study was to identify the causes of these bowel obstructions in elderly patients and to expose the results of their surgical management. Patients and Methods: Retrospective and analytical study of patients aged 65 years and over, operated on between January 2013 and December 2019 for acute bowel obstruction at the University Hospital of Bouake. Demographic, diagnostic, therapeutic and evolutionary data were analysed. Results: The study involved 36 men and 23 women (sex ratio = 1.6). The mean age of these patients was 70 ± 4.6 years (65 and 90 years). A history and/or co-morbidities were found in 67.8% of them. Patients were classified as ASA I (20.3%), ASA II (42.4%), ASA III (33.9%) or ASA IV (3.4%). The average consultation time was 5.3 ± 4.1 days (2 days and 28 days). Bowel obstructions were due to colonic volvulus (38.9%), colonic cancer (22%), postoperative adhesions (18.6%), strangulated groin hernia (16.9%) or internal bowel hernia (3.3%). Volvulated or necrotic bowel and resectable cancers were resected followed by immediate anastomosis or stoma. Near upstream stomas were performed for unresectable cancers. A herniorrhaphy for groin hernias and a mesenteric breach suture for internal hernia were performed after bowel disinterment. Adhesions were released. The time to surgery was 22.3 ± 12.4 hours (2 hours and 72 hours). The post-surgery morbidity was 32.2%, marked by parietal suppurations (47.4%). The post-surgery mortality was 16.9%. Hemodynamic or septic shock, ASA score ≥ III, bowel necrosis and ICU stay were the significant risk factors. Conclusion: Acute bowel obstructions in the elderly are dominated by colonic volvulus. The high mortality is related to various factors highlighting the frailty of the elderly. A multidisciplinary management involving the geriatrician could improve the prognosis.

Delayed Diagnosis of Isolated Traumatic Rupture of Bladder

Traumatic ruptures of the bladder are relatively rare lesions. They are associated in more than 80% of cases with a fracture of the pelvic girdle. The lesion mechanism is usually a sudden compression on the full bladder. Hypogastric pain and macroscopic hematuria suggest the diagnosis, which is confirmed by cystography. This diagnosis can be difficult and delayed in the absence of these call signs. We report a case of isolated traumatic intraperitoneal rupture of the bladder, diagnosed 24 hours after a public road accident in a 44-year-old patient.

Spectrum of Acute Non Traumatic Diffuse Secondary Peritonitis in the Tropics

Background: Peritonitis is one of the most common surgical emergency in tropical countries. It is still a significant cause of mortality and morbidity. This study aimed to describe the aetiology of acute non traumatic diffuse secondary peritonitis (ANDSP) and to report the outcome after treatment. Material and Methods: A retrospective survey of patients with ANDSP was carried out from January 2007 to December 2016 in the Digestive and General Surgery Service of Bouaké Teaching Hospital in the central part of Côte d’Ivoire. The hospital is a tertiary referral centre and serves urban and rural population from Bouaké’s agglomeration but also from the whole central and northern parts of the country. During the study period, all patients found to have at laparotomy ANDSP were included. The analysed variables include epidemiologic charts, clinical presentation, cause of peritonitis, surgical treatment, postoperative outcome and prognostic factors. Results: Over the studied period 626 cases of ANDSP were operated on. The main aetiologies were gastroduodenal peptic ulcer perforation (n = 252, 41.1%), typhoid ileal perforation (n = 207, 33%) and appendicular peritonitis (n = 123, 19.6%). The mean duration of hospital stay was 13.8 ± 9.6 days (range 8 - 87 days). The length of hospital stay was significantly influenced by postoperative complications (23.5 ± 5.4 days versus 10.8 ± 2.7 days P = 0.000000). Two hundred and sixty one postoperative complications were recorded in 242 patients (38.6%) with wound infection being the commonest postoperative complication. A repeat laparotomy was indicated in 73 patients. Eigthy (n = 80) patients died (mortality 11.2%). Risk factors for death were hemodynamic shock, ASA > II, Age ≥ 60 years, M PI > 29 and digestive sutures performed in septic environment below the transverse mesocolon. Conclusion: The spectrum of aetiology of ANDSP in this tropical area is different from the one observed in the Western countries. Proper treatment of typhoid fever and amoebiasis can reduce the incidence of peritonitis. Early consultation together with adequate resuscitation and surgical management can improve the prognostic which still remains poor.