Early Experience with Laparoscopic Surgical Practice in Ondo State, South Western Nigeria.

BACKGROUND: Laparoscopic surgery is a relatively new and expanding field of surgical therapy in Ondo state. This is a multi-centre study cataloguing the work of the authors in Ondo State, Nigeria. AIM: To determine the indications, operative findings, and interventions at Laparoscopy in our resource challenged settings. PATIENTS AND METHODS: Medical records of all patients who had laparoscopic procedure at the Federal Medical Centre, Owo, Ondo State Specialist hospital, Okitipupa, University of Medical Sciences Teaching Hospital, Ondo, George and Martins Medical Centre, Ore and Mishmael Hospitals and Clinics, Akure from December, 2009 to December, 2018 were reviewed. Data on patient's age, gender, indications for surgery, duration of hospital stay, outcome of surgery were analyzed. Challenges and adaptations were also noted. RESULTS: One hundred and eighty-one (181) laparoscopic procedures were done, but only 152 had complete records for review. The median age was 35.5 years (mean = 33.7+/-11.4years; age range of 8 month -72 years). There were more males 88(57.9%) than females, 64(42.1%). Laparoscopy was purely diagnostic (n=28,18.4%), therapeutic (n=118, 77.6%) or both (n=6, 3.9%). Cholecystectomy (n=76, 50%) and appendicectomy (n=37, 24.3%) were the two most common procedures done. In the paediatric patients, patent processus vaginalis (hernia), cryptorchidism and indeterminate sex (gender) were common indication. Challenges encountered were power failure (n=3, 2%), equipment failure (n=4, 2.6%) and difficult dissection (n=4, 2.6%). The mean duration of surgery was 96.96(+/-25) minutes (diagnostic), 150 (+/-57.6) minutes (therapeutic); while the mean duration of hospital stay was one day (diagnostic) and 2.3(+/-1.7) days for therapeutic interventions. CONCLUSION: Laparoscopic service is achievable with adequate motivation, males appear to benefit more in our setting, and the service transcends all aged groups.