A Review of Upper Aerodigestive Emergencies Managed at Two Tertiary-level Hospitals in Semi-urban Cameroon
Background: Upper aerodigestive emergencies (UADEs) pose diagnostic and therapeutic challenges. We sought to define the socio-demographic and clinical characteristics of patients presenting with UADEs, describe the causes of emergencies, and report treatment and outcomes in our setting. Materials an...
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Surgical Society of Kenya
2025-07-01
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| Series: | The Annals of African Surgery |
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| Online Access: | https://www.annalsofafricansurgery.com/review-of-upper-aerodigestive-emergencies |
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| author | Emmanuel Choffor-Nchinda Ngwane Ntongwetape Ngomba Divine Martin Mokake Nkeng Zifack |
| author_facet | Emmanuel Choffor-Nchinda Ngwane Ntongwetape Ngomba Divine Martin Mokake Nkeng Zifack |
| author_sort | Emmanuel Choffor-Nchinda |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | Background: Upper aerodigestive emergencies (UADEs) pose diagnostic and therapeutic challenges. We sought to define the socio-demographic and clinical characteristics of patients presenting with UADEs, describe the causes of emergencies, and report treatment and outcomes in our setting. Materials and methods: This study was a hospital-based retrospective study, conducted in two tertiary-level hospitals located in semi-urban settings in Cameroon. We included records of all patients admitted and treated for UADEs from January 2014 to December 2023. Results: Seventy-four files were included in the study. Males were predominant (46; 62.2%), and the most represented age group was 1–10 years (19; 25.7%). Infections (31; 41.9%), neoplasms (15; 20.3%), foreign bodies (12; 16.2%), trauma (11; 14.9%), and caustic injury (5; 6.7%) were the causes identified. The majority of patients (56; 75.7%) were treated surgically, among whom nine (16.1%) had tracheotomies. Endoscopy was used for 10 patients (13.5%), while 8 (10.8%) were managed conservatively. The outcome was good for the majority of patients (67; 90.5%). Causes that were significantly associated with poor outcomes were neoplasms (odd’s ratio [OR] 4.2, 95% confidence interval [CI] 1.2–6.8, p = 0.03) and caustic injury (OR 5.8, 95% CI 2.2–8.3, p = 0.02). Conclusion: The outcome of UADEs was generally good. Infectious causes that are mostly preventable by immunization and effective antibiotic therapy are predominant. |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj-art-9a58c995eb7643d78d1e70e8acae15f3 |
| institution | Kabale University |
| issn | 1999-9674 2523-0816 |
| language | English |
| publishDate | 2025-07-01 |
| publisher | Surgical Society of Kenya |
| record_format | Article |
| series | The Annals of African Surgery |
| spelling | doaj-art-9a58c995eb7643d78d1e70e8acae15f32025-08-21T08:41:40ZengSurgical Society of KenyaThe Annals of African Surgery1999-96742523-08162025-07-0122399106http://dx.doi.org/10.4314/aas.v22i3.4A Review of Upper Aerodigestive Emergencies Managed at Two Tertiary-level Hospitals in Semi-urban CameroonEmmanuel Choffor-Nchinda0https://orcid.org/0000-0001-6975-9910Ngwane Ntongwetape1https://orcid.org/0000-0003-3969-1008Ngomba Divine Martin Mokake2https://orcid.org/0000-0003-3648-0571Nkeng Zifack3https://orcid.org/0009-0004-5756-8120Department of Surgery and Specialties, Faculty of Health Sciences, University of Buea, CameroonDepartment of Surgery and Specialties, Faculty of Health Sciences, University of Buea, CameroonDepartment of Surgery and Specialties, Faculty of Health Sciences, University of Buea, CameroonDepartment of Surgery and Specialties, Faculty of Health Sciences, University of Buea, CameroonBackground: Upper aerodigestive emergencies (UADEs) pose diagnostic and therapeutic challenges. We sought to define the socio-demographic and clinical characteristics of patients presenting with UADEs, describe the causes of emergencies, and report treatment and outcomes in our setting. Materials and methods: This study was a hospital-based retrospective study, conducted in two tertiary-level hospitals located in semi-urban settings in Cameroon. We included records of all patients admitted and treated for UADEs from January 2014 to December 2023. Results: Seventy-four files were included in the study. Males were predominant (46; 62.2%), and the most represented age group was 1–10 years (19; 25.7%). Infections (31; 41.9%), neoplasms (15; 20.3%), foreign bodies (12; 16.2%), trauma (11; 14.9%), and caustic injury (5; 6.7%) were the causes identified. The majority of patients (56; 75.7%) were treated surgically, among whom nine (16.1%) had tracheotomies. Endoscopy was used for 10 patients (13.5%), while 8 (10.8%) were managed conservatively. The outcome was good for the majority of patients (67; 90.5%). Causes that were significantly associated with poor outcomes were neoplasms (odd’s ratio [OR] 4.2, 95% confidence interval [CI] 1.2–6.8, p = 0.03) and caustic injury (OR 5.8, 95% CI 2.2–8.3, p = 0.02). Conclusion: The outcome of UADEs was generally good. Infectious causes that are mostly preventable by immunization and effective antibiotic therapy are predominant.https://www.annalsofafricansurgery.com/review-of-upper-aerodigestive-emergenciesupper aerodigestive tractemergencyairway obstructioncameroonsub-saharan africa |
| spellingShingle | Emmanuel Choffor-Nchinda Ngwane Ntongwetape Ngomba Divine Martin Mokake Nkeng Zifack A Review of Upper Aerodigestive Emergencies Managed at Two Tertiary-level Hospitals in Semi-urban Cameroon The Annals of African Surgery upper aerodigestive tract emergency airway obstruction cameroon sub-saharan africa |
| title | A Review of Upper Aerodigestive Emergencies Managed at Two Tertiary-level Hospitals in Semi-urban Cameroon |
| title_full | A Review of Upper Aerodigestive Emergencies Managed at Two Tertiary-level Hospitals in Semi-urban Cameroon |
| title_fullStr | A Review of Upper Aerodigestive Emergencies Managed at Two Tertiary-level Hospitals in Semi-urban Cameroon |
| title_full_unstemmed | A Review of Upper Aerodigestive Emergencies Managed at Two Tertiary-level Hospitals in Semi-urban Cameroon |
| title_short | A Review of Upper Aerodigestive Emergencies Managed at Two Tertiary-level Hospitals in Semi-urban Cameroon |
| title_sort | review of upper aerodigestive emergencies managed at two tertiary level hospitals in semi urban cameroon |
| topic | upper aerodigestive tract emergency airway obstruction cameroon sub-saharan africa |
| url | https://www.annalsofafricansurgery.com/review-of-upper-aerodigestive-emergencies |
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