Intestinal obstruction in Khartoum.

The pattern of intestinal obstruction at Khartoum Teaching Hospital was reviewed in this study which included 239 patients. 170 of them were males and 68 were females. Their ages ranged from two days to 95 years (mean 31.4 +/- 5.3 years). The commonest causes of intestinal obstruction were strangulated external hernias (27.7%), intestinal adhesions (21%), intussusception (12%) and sigmoid volvulus (11%). Less frequent causes were paralytic ileus, large bowel tumours, peritoneal bands and Hirschsprung's disease. Of the strangulated hernias, inguinal hernia (70%) was the most frequent type of hernia seen, followed by paraumbilical hernia (20%). Previous appendicectomy (40%) and laparotomy for abdominal trauma (20%) were the commonest causes of adhesive intestinal obstruction. The mortality rate of intestinal obstruction was 19.7%. This high mortality is attributed to delayed presentation, fluid and electrolyte imbalance, intestinal ischaemia and gangrene. This could be minimised by health education, adequate preoperative preparation, meticulous surgical technique and good postoperative care.