Gastric outlet obstruction in Ugandans: a possible ethnic association

Twenty six-adults referred to the Radiology Department; Mulago Hosptial with clinical signs of gastric outlet obstruction were prospectively studied. Relevant demographic data were noted following which the patients underwent a standard upper gastro-intestinal tract (GIT) Barium study in order to define the site; extent and cause of their obstruction. In addition; they underwent endoscopy nad surgery for further diagnostic and therapeutic puposes. Duodenal peptic ulceration was the commonest cause accounting gor obstruction in 19 out of the 26 patients. There was a male to female ratio of 3:2. There was a striking prepondance of patients belonging to the Nkore tribe; a native tribe in Western Uganda. Of the 14 Nkore patient; 12 had obstruction due to chronic duedenal ulceration.. In the majority of patients the obstruction was decompensated or partially compensated. Duodenal ulceration was the usual cause of gastric outlet obstruction and a significant proportion of patients came from Nkore tribe. A larger study to investigate this tribal distribution and to seek specific casual factors and associations is indicated

The frequency of gastric volvulus among patients presenting for upper gastro-intestinal tract Barium studies at Mulago Hospital

Long-standing upper abdominal pain is the commonest symptom in patients referred for upper gastro-intestinal tract (UGIT) Barium studies at the Radiology Department of Mulago Hospital. Between October 1993 and May 1995; 31 patients; attending Mulago Hospital for upper abdominal pain; showed gastric volvulus on UGIT Barium studies. The volvulus was organo-axial in all. It was complete in 10 patients and partial in 21. In 21 patients volvulus was the only finding but 10 had other pathologies such as peptic ulcers; hiatus hernias and gastritis. Symptoms disappeared in all four patients who underwent gastropexy. Important findings at laparotomy were long suspensory ligaments of the stomach and a long transverse mesocolon seen in two patients. In this series; chronic gastric volvulus occurred in 1.2of patients presenting for UGIT studies at Mulago Hospital and may be the cause of pain in some of these individuals