Laparoscopic Appendectomies at Brazzaville University Hospital

Introduction: Acute appendicitis represents an urgent surgical condition, requiring the removal of the vermiform appendix. Laparoscopy is the standard surgical approach. This study aimed to outline the epidemiological, clinical, therapeutic, and outcome characteristics of patients undergoing laparoscopic surgery for acute appendicitis. Patients and Methods: A descriptive, retrospective analysis was carried out in the Emergency and Digestive Surgery departments of the University Hospital Center of Brazzaville, spanning two years from January 1, 2021, to December 31, 2022. The study included all patients who underwent laparoscopic surgery for non-complicated acute appendicitis. Results: The study included 12 cases of non-complicated acute appendicitis treated with urgent laparoscopy. The mean age of the patients was 37 ± 8.9 years, with a sex ratio of 0.7. The predominant symptom leading to consultation was pain in the right iliac fossa, with an average time to consultation of 6.4 ± 5.7 hours. Patient histories included diabetes in one case, obesity in two cases, and one case of prior abdominoplasty. During surgery, a phlegmonous appendix was observed in nine patients. The average duration of hospital stay was 3.6 ± 1.3 days, with all patients experiencing uncomplicated recoveries. Conclusion: The practice of emergency laparoscopic appendectomy is still relatively infrequent in our setting and presents an ongoing challenge.

Surgical Treatment of Hemorrhoidal Disease at Brazzaville University Hospital Center

Introduction: Hemorrhoidal disease is a common pathology and its surgical treatment is based, among other things, on pedicular resection after failure of medical and instrumental treatment. The aim of this study is to analyze the epidemiological, clinical, therapeutic and evolving aspects of hemorrhoidal disease at the stage of surgical treatment at the University Hospital Center of Brazzaville. Patients and Methods: We conducted a retrospective and descriptive study carried out from January 2020 to December 2021, a 24 months period, in the Digestive surgery department of the University Hospital Center of Brazzaville. It concerned patients who underwent a surgical procedure for hemorrhoidal disease. Results: 21 cases were collected, representing a hospital frequency of 2.3%, with a sex ratio of 4.3 in favor of men. The average age of patients was 42.2 ± 11.9 years. The symptoms were mainly proctalgia, mass sensation and rectal bleeding. We recorded five cases (19.1%) of hemorrhoidal thrombosis and 16 cases (80.9%) of hemorrhoidal prolapse including 12 cases requiring manual integration (Goligher grade III) and four irreducible permanent cases (Goligher grade IV). The Grade III prolapse was associated with a polyp in one patient and with posterior anal fissure in another patient. Out of the 21 patients, 14 underwent a tripedicular hemorrhoidectomy according to Milligan and Morgan. Two patients underwent mono- and bipedicular hemorrhoidectomy with resection of associated lesions and five patients underwent emergency thrombectomy. The outcome was favorable for all our patients. The average length of hospital stay was 1.5 ± 2.1 days. Conclusion: In the event of failure of medical and instrumental treatment, the hemorrhoidal cure according to Milligan and Morgan is the surgical treatment of reference for hemorrhoidal disease at the University Hospital Center of Brazzaville.

Comparative Study of Neurosurgical Complications of Thalassemia and Sickle Cell Disease

Introduction: Sickle cell disease and thalassemia are the most frequent hemoglobinopathies. During their evolution, they present certain complications, among which are two neurosurgical emergencies, namely spontaneous cranial epidural hematoma and non traumatic radiculo-medullary compression, with some particularities for each. Method: In order to highlight these particularities, we compared the characteristics of these two complications, from a number of publications reported between 2000 and 2021. Results: Sickle cell disease was complicated by spontaneous cranial epidural hematoma. Forty-two cases were reported, the mean age was 14.7 years (2 - 21 years) and the sex ratio was 6.4. The clinical presentation combined, in a non-traumatic context, signs of intracranial hypertension with those of neurological focalization. Neuroimaging showed epidural-type collection, often frontal and parietal in location. The incriminating mechanisms were ischemia, hemorrhage and extra medullary hematopoiesis. The treatment was surgical. Non traumatic radiculo-medullary was the complication of thalassemia. Of the 77 cases reported, the mean age was 27.5 years (9 - 66 years) and the sex ratio was 4.1. The lesions were epidural with a clear thoracic predominance and resulted from extra marrow hematopoiesis. Treatment included: hypertransfusion, radiotherapy, hydroxyurea and surgery. Vital and functional prognosis were globally satisfactory when the management was rapid. Conclusion: Cranial and spinal epidural lesions, respective complications of sickle cell disease and thalassemia, result from similar mechanisms. Their prognosis depends on the rapidity of management. .

Recurrent Sigmoid Volvulus after Sigmoidectomy: 3 Clinical Cases

Introduction: Recurrent sigmoid volvulus is a medical and surgical emergency. It is the recurrence of a twisting of the sigmoid loop around its mesenteric axis initiating an occlusion by strangulation. The risk factors of colonic volvulus are: a dolichosigmoid, a chronic constipation, a tumor, …In Western countries, recurrences of sigmoid volvulus after surgery are rare and due to a non resection of a dolicho-megacolon. Most African studies do not report any recurrence of sigmoid volvulus after sigmoidectomy. This work aims to describe three original cases of recurrence of sigmoid volvulus after sigmoidectomy recorded at the University Hospital of Brazzaville and to analyze their causes and surgical management. Clinical Observation: We studied the cases of three male patients, whose average age was 73 years, each of them having a history of chronic constipation and sigmoidectomy for sigmoid volvulus with an average delay of recurrence of 5.3 years. They all underwent emergency laparotomy for acute intestinal obstruction on scarred abdomen. The surgery permitted to unfold a recurrent volvulus of the sigmoid associated with circumferential scar fibrosis on the volvulated sigmoid loop. A second colectomy was performed. The histological results of the surgical specimens were normal for two patients and revealed signs of tissue necrosis for the third patient. The postoperative outcome was without incident for two patients. The third patient died after developing a septic shock. Conclusion: Recurrent sigmoid volvulus after sigmoidectomy is rare. The etiological factors for our three patients were incomplete sigmoidectomy during the first operation and chronic constipation.

Rare Neonatal Digestive Surgical Emergencies at the Brazzaville University Hospital Center

The purpose of our study was to evaluate the morbidity-morality of rare neonatal digestive emergencies in order to improve their management. Observations: 7 newborns ranging in age from 6 hours to 3 weeks were treated for rare digestive pathologies between January 2013 and July 2017 (a period of 3 years and 6 months) in the Department of Pediatric surgery of Brazzaville University Center, Congo. Males were predominant (5 versus 2 females). Pathologies listed were: 1 antenatal volvulus of the small intestine, 1 annular pancreas and 5 gastric perforations. The average time of care in the operating room was 12 hours. The newborns were hospitalized in the pediatric surgery department in 28.6% of cases (n = 2), and 71.4% (n = 5) in the neonatology department. The antenatal volvulus of the intestine and annulus pancreas were integrated into a nosologic entity named neonatal occlusion (NNO). The postoperative outcomes were simple for 4 patients (57.14%) while 3 patients died immediately after surgery (42.86%). Conclusion: Neonatal surgical emergencies are still difficult to manage in our context. The lack of knowledge of these rare pathologies, which delays their management, considerably increases morbidity-mortality. The critical analysis of this series highlights diagnostic and therapeutic difficulties particularly with gastric perforations, hence the interest of better popularization of pediatric surgery.

Lymphadenectomy for Colorectal Cancer: Experience of the Brazzaville Teaching Hospital

Introduction: Lymph node (LN) metastasis are important biomarkers in the resection of colorectal cancer translating into accurate disease staging. It is therefore obvious that lymph node dissection in the curative treatment of colorectal cancer is a prognostic factor that influences survival and guides management strategy. This study aims to evaluate lymph node dissection in colorectal cancers (CRC) managed at the Teaching Hospital, Brazzaville, Congo. Patients and Method: We carried out a descriptive prospective study during a period of 18 months from October 2020 to March 2021 involving patients who underwent curative treatment for colorectal cancer at the visceral surgery department of the Brazzaville Teaching Hospital. Results: Thirty (30) cases of CRC were recorded out of 738 hospitalizations in the visceral surgery departments, which constitute 4.06% of the in-patient activity of the department during the period under study. Mean age was 55.13 years and a male predominance was observed with a sex ratio of 1.14. Colonic involvement was predominant in our series and was found in 22 of the patients. 25 patients underwent surgical resection while 5 patients could not undergo operative treatment. 17 out of the 25 patients underwent curative treatment, 6 were offered palliative care, whereas surgical abstention was decided in 2 patients. The average number of lymphadenectomies per patient was 16.43. Lymphadenectomy was greater than or equal to 12 in 88% of patients. Nine patients had vascular emboli whereas 10 patients had perineural invasion. The tumor was staged as T3 in 15 patients;six patients had a negative lymph node and 11 patients had at least one lymph node invasion. Distant metastasis status could not be determined in 10 patients. Conclusion: Lymphadenectomy is a hallmark in the curative treatment of colorectal cancer as it allows for optimal staging. This represents a strong prognostic factor that defines adjuvant therapy and overall patient outcome.