Clinical Profile, Treatment Modilities and Outcomes of Upper Aero-Digestive Tract Emergencies at Bugando Medical Centre Mwanza Tanzania
- Mwanza, Tanzania: Catholic University of Health and Allied Sciences [CUHAS - Bugando] 2019
- xiv; 57 Pages
Abstract:
Background: Emergencies of the upper aero-digestive tract Emergencies are common in our setting, can be life threatening, challenging to the otolaryngologists and yet there is paucity of clinical studies on these emergencies.
Objectives: To determine the clinical profile, treatment modalities and outcomes of upper aerodigestive tract emergencies at Bugando Medical Centre - Mwanza, Tanzania.
Methods: A cross sectional study among 128 patients of all ages who presented at Bugando Medical Centre with a clinical diagnosis of Upper Aerodigestive Tract Emergencies from February to May 2019. Questionnaire data on socio and demography, clinical presentation, duration of symptoms, time interval between admission and intervention, type of intervention, postoperative complications and length of hospital stay. Ethical clearance was obtained from the joint CUHAS/BMC research ethics and review committee.
Results: Of 487 ENT emergencies seen during study period, 128 (26.3%) patients had UADTE. Major causes of Upper Aerodigestive tract Emergencies at BMC were foreign body ingestion (43.8%), head & neck tumors (25.8%), foreign body aspiration (19.5%) and cut-throat injuries (3.9%). The most frequent presentations were dysphagia (63.3%), difficulty in breathing (47.7%) and odynophagia (43.8). Poor outcome of e treatment (esophagoscopy) was associated with younger age (0-17 years) (p=0.02), prolonged duration to treatment (p=0.04) and low blood oxygen saturation (SPO2) (p=0.04). In addition, delayed duration to treatment (p=0.01) and foreign body ingestion (p=0.001) were significantly associated with poor outcome (prolonged hospital stay).
Conclusion: At Bugando Medical Centre, UADTE pose a serious burden and challenge. Peripheral hospitals should be equipped with trained health workers and basic equipment to resuscitate and manage these patients before they are referred to otolaryngologists.
Wurzburg Road 35, BMC Premises, Post Code: 33102: P. O Box 1464, Mwanza – Tanzania: Phone: +255 28 298 3384: Fax: +255 28 298 3386: Email: vc@bugando.ac.tz : www.bugando.ac.tz