Laparoscopic Cholecystectomy at the Korle Bu Teaching Hospital; Accra; Ghana: an Initial Report

BACKGROUND: Laparoscopic cholecystectomy (LC) the preferred treatment for gallstones was not available in Ghana until 2005. OBJECTIVE: To report experience from Ghana of laparoscopic cholecystectomy in the treatment of galestones. METHODS: In a prospective study of patients with gallstones; information was obtained on demography; duration of various stages of the operation; analgesia and complication of patients with gallstones. All patients had general anaesthesia using endotracheal intubation; muscle relaxant and intermittent positive pressure ventilation. A standard four-trocar technique and maximum pneumoperitoneum pressure of 14mmHg were maintained during surgery. RESULTS: There were 50 women and two men aged 17-72 years (mean 44.2 years). All had symptomatic gallstones treated by interval LC. The main indications were biliary colic 23(44) and previous cholecystitis 15(29). There were scars from previous abdominal surgery in 22 (42); mainly pfannenstiel. The Verres needle was used to obtain pneumoperitoneum in 40 (77). Only one patient (1.9) had the operation converted to open cholecystectomy. Most patients; 47/51 (92); were discharged in 24 hours. The mean durations of various stages were: anaesthesia (110 minutes); pneumo-peritoneum (67.5 minutes) and reverse trendelenburg (47.8 minutes). The mean operating time reduced from 81 to 68 minutes in the last 20 patients. Complications were sore throat 11(21.6); infection of the umbilical wound 3(5.9); right shoulder tip pain (3; 5.9) and bile leak 1(2). There was no peri-operative mortality. CONCLUSION: Elective laparoscopic cholecystectomy can be performed with good results in patients with symptomatic gallstones in Accra

Postoperative Nausea and Vomiting in Korle Bu Teaching Hospital

Objective: Postoperative nausea and vomiting (PONV) is one of the most distressing morbidities associated with surgery. Even though the incidence can be as high as 30 elsewhere no work has been done to assess the incidence in any health facility in Ghana. This study was carried out to find out the incidence; risk factors and the management of PONV in a tertiary healthcare facility. Design: This was a prospective study. Setting: The study was carried out in Korle Bu Teaching Hospital (KBTH). Subjects and Methods: All patients above the age of 18 years who had surgery including general surgery were included in the study. Information obtained using a questionnaire included demographic data; the type of anaesthesia; the incidence of PONV and its management. Results: Three hundred and six (306) completed forms out of 322 questionnaires were analyzed. One hundred and six patients (34) had episodes of PONV of whom 82 (77.4) had intra-operative opioids. Of the other factors only age was found to be a risk factor with patients in the 20-49 age group constituting 71.8(p= 0.007). Eleven out of 93 patients who reported the episode to a health worker received medication for their PONV. Drugs used included promethazine and antimalaria. Conclusions: Thirty-four percent of patients in the study had PONV indicating that the problem is not uncommon among post-surgical patients in KBTH. Awareness of the problem should be highlighted and adequate management should be given to all patients. Patients at risk should be identified and appropriate management instituted

Pre-operative haematological investigation in paediatric patients for elective surgery

Haematological investigations for 225 paediatric patients aged between zero to 15 years who presented for elective surgery were studied retrospectively over a five-month period. In addition to the Haemoglobin (Hb); the Sickling test and the haemoglobin electrophoresis where applicable were done. Thirty per cent (30 per cent) of the patients had Hb of 10g/dl and below. The lower Hb was found more commonly in the age group zero to 5 years. Eleven (4.9 per cent) patients did not have the Sickling test done. Twenty-three (23) out of 29 patients with Sickling positive had electrophoresis done. The results were 21 AS; 1 SS; and 1 SC. Blood film for malaria parasites yielded positive results in 33 out of 175 (18.9 per cent) patients. There were no immediate anaesthetic complications in any of the patients. The need for minimum test of Hb; Sickling and blood film for malaria parasites are discussed