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Abstract

RÉSUMÉ
Introduction. De nombreuses pathologies chirurgicales pédiatriques peuvent être corrigées par des interventions simples et peu coûteuses. Non traitées, elles peuvent entraîner des incapacités à vie ou augmenter la mortalité infantile. Au Cameroun, les données sur le spectre, la fréquence, les défis et la mortalité liés aux pathologies chirurgicales pédiatriques restent limitées. Cette étude visait à évaluer la prévalence, les modes de présentation et les issues de la prise en charge de ces pathologies dans trois hôpitaux camerounais. Méthodes. Il s’agit d’une étude rétrospective descriptive menée chez les enfants de 0 à 18 ans hospitalisés pour une pathologie chirurgicale entre janvier 2019 et décembre 2021. Les dossiers médicaux et registres opératoires ont été exploités. Les données sociodémographiques et cliniques ont été collectées à l’aide d’un formulaire standardisé et analysées via SPSS version 25. Résultats. Sur 1526 hospitalisations chirurgicales pédiatriques (12,6 % de toutes les admissions pédiatriques), 63,5 % étaient des garçons (ratio H:F = 1,7:1), majoritairement âgés de 6 à 12 ans. Les nouveau-nés représentaient 7,3 % des cas. Près de 58 % des admissions étaient en urgence et 36 % se sont présentés tardivement. Environ 14 % présentaient déjà des complications à l’admission. Les principales causes d’hospitalisation étaient : traumatismes (39,8 %), malformations congénitales (25,6 %) et pathologies gastro-intestinales (14,8 %). Le taux global de mortalité était de 4,3 %, atteignant 31,3 % chez les nouveau-nés. Les diagnostics avec les taux de mortalité les plus élevés incluaient : gastroschisis (91,7 %), traumatisme crânien (54,5 %), brûlures/omphalocèle (36,4 %) et atrésie duodénale (40 %). Conclusion. Les pathologies chirurgicales représentent une part importante des hospitalisations pédiatriques, avec une mortalité particulièrement élevée chez les nouveau-nés.
ABSTRACT
Background. Many pediatric surgical conditions can be corrected through simple, low-cost procedures. If left untreated, delays or inappropriate management may lead to lifelong disabilities or increased childhood mortality. In Cameroon, there is limited information on the spectrum, burden, and case-specific mortality of pediatric surgical conditions. This study aimed to assess the prevalence, presentation patterns, and outcomes of pediatric surgical cases in three hospitals in Cameroon. Methods. This was a retrospective descriptive hospital-based study involving children aged 0 to 18 years who were admitted for surgical conditions between January 2019 and December 2021. Patient records and operating theatre registers were reviewed. A standardized data collection form was used to gather sociodemographic and clinical information. Data were analyzed using SPSS version 25. Results. During the study period, 1,526 pediatric surgical admissions were recorded, representing 12.6% of all pediatric admissions. Males accounted for 63.5% (M:F ratio = 1.7:1), with the 6–12-year age group being most affected. Newborns represented 7.3% of surgical patients. About 58% presented as emergencies, and 36% had late presentation, with symptoms lasting from over a week to several months. Nearly 14% presented with complications at admission. The leading causes of surgical admission were trauma (39.8%), congenital anomalies (25.6%), and gastrointestinal surgical conditions (14.8%). A total of 4% of patients left against medical advice, mostly due to financial reasons. The overall mortality rate was 4.3%, with the highest in neonates (31.3%). Diagnoses with the highest mortality included gastroschisis (91.7%), head trauma (54.5%), burns/omphalocele (36.4%), and duodenal atresia (40%). Conclusion. Surgical conditions account for a significant portion of pediatric admissions, with trauma, congenital anomalies, and gastrointestinal pathologies being the most common. Neonatal surgical mortality remains alarmingly high.

Keywords

Paediatric surgery, Hospital mortality, Newborns, Trauma, Congenital malformations, Cameroon Chirurgie pédiatrique, Mortalité hospitalière, Nouveau-nés, Traumatismes, Malformations congénitales, Cameroun

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Yannick Ekani Boukar, Freddy Mertens Bombah, Martin Mokake, Pascal Nwandum, Marc Leroy Guifo, & Marcellin Ngowe Ngowe. (2025). Prevalence, Clinical Profiles, and Therapeutic Outcomes of Pediatric Surgical Conditions in Cameroon: A Three-Year Retrospective Study. HEALTH SCIENCES AND DISEASE, 26(11). https://doi.org/10.5281/hsd.v26i11.7163
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