Impact of the first wave of the COVID-19 pandemic on emergency surgical activities at the National Reference University Hospital of N’Djamena

Moussa Kalli; Ali Mahamat Moussa; Aboulgassim Oumar; Choua Ouchemi

doi:10.23750/abm.v92iS2.12672

Impact of the first wave of the COVID-19 pandemic on emergency surgical activities at the National Reference University Hospital of N’Djamena

Authors

Moussa Kalli
Ali Mahamat Moussa
Aboulgassim Oumar
Choua Ouchemi

DOI: https://doi.org/10.23750/abm.v92iS2.12672

Keywords:

COVID-19, Surgical emergencies, Africa, Chad

Abstract

Aim of the work: An evaluation of Covid-19 pandemic impact on emergency surgical activities at the CHU-RN in N'Djamena, Chad.

Method: A retrospective study of patients admitted to the surgical emergency room during the first wave of the pandemic (April-June 2020). The data were compared to those of patients admitted during the same period in 2019 (control group).

Results: A total of 3248 patients were received: 2366 in 2019 and 882 in 2020. Respective reduction of 50% of admissions and 31% of emergency operations were observed. The average age (30 years) and male predominance remained unchanged. The average admission time went from 72 hours in 2019 to 7 days in 2020. We also noticed that digestive emergencies, such as acute generalized peritonitis (6.6% vs 14.4%, p < 0.1) and strangulated hernias (6.6% vs 15.2% p: 0.07) were more severe in 2020.

Conclusion: COVID-19 had reduced admissions and urgent surgical interventions.

References

Tuech JJ, Gangloff A, Di Fiore F, Michel P, Brigand C, Slim K,Pocard M, Schwarz L. Strategy for the practice of digestive and oncological surgery during the Covid-19 epidemic. J Visc Surg. doi: 10.1016/j.jviscsurg.2020.03.008.

Ndongo N A. Pandémie à Coronavirus (COVID-19) et pratique de la chirurgie dans les pays à ressources limitées Ann. Afr. Med.2020 ; 13(3): 3731-5.

Tchoubou FH. Comparaison de l’évolution du covid-19 dans six pays: Afrique du sud, Cameroun, Tchad, France, Italie et Etats-Unis durant leurs premiers mois de la pandémie. [Internet]. 2020 [cited september 20, 2021]. Disponible sur: https://hal.archives-ouvertes.fr/hal-02554785

Patriti et al. Emergency general surgery in Italy during the COVID-19 outbreak: first survey from the real life World Journal of Emergency Surgery.2020;15:36 https://doi.org/10.1186/s13017-020-00314-3

Lancaster EM, Sosa JA, Sammann A, et al. Rapid Response of an Academic Surgical Department to the COVID-19 Pandemic: Implications for Patients, Surgeons, and the Community. J Am Coll Surg [Internet]. 2020 Apr 9 [cited 2020 May 8]; Available from

Perrone G, Giuffrida M, Bonati E et al.Emergency Surgery in A Tertiary Hospital: The Covid-19 Experience. Bangladesh Journal of Medical Science, Special Issue on Covid19, 2020. Page : S 66-S 68 DOI:https://doi.org/10.3329/bjms.v19i0.48168

Choua O, Ali M M, Kaboro M, Moussa KM, Anour M. Etiological, Clinical, and Therapeutic Aspects of Acute Generalized Peritonitis in N’Djamena. Méd Santé Trop.2017; 27:270-3.

Kalli M, Valentin A, Younous S et al. Aspects épidémiologiques des traumatismes lies aux accidents de la voie publique chez les adultes au Centre Hospitalier Universitaire De Reference Nationale De N’Djamena (Chu-Rn), Tchad. ESJ. 2021;17(25) :396-406.

Orthopoulos G, Santone E, Izzo F, Tirabassi M. Increasing incidence of complicated appendicitis during COVID-19 pandemic. The American Journal of Surgery. 2021;221:1056-60

Lima DL, · Pereira X, Dos Santos DC, Camacho D, Malcher F. Where are the hernias? A paradoxical decrease in emergency hernia surgery during COVID 19 pandemic Hernia. 2020; 24:1141-2 https://doi.org/10.1007/s10029-020-02250-2

Atri S, Hadad A, Makni M, Kacem J. Digestive surgical emergencies during the COVID-19 pandemic are deeply affected and more advanced. J Chir Visc.2021; 158(1):98-9.