Abdominal re-interventions in Butembo City, Eastern part of the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC)

Introduction: The abdominal re-intervention is an abdominal operation performed in the first 60 days of the initial abdominal surgery. It is badly consider because of its heavy morbidity and mortality and there is no clear indication of abdominal re-intervention. This study aims to determine the epidemiological, clinical and therapeutic characteristics of inpatient undergoing abdominal re-interventions in Butembo town. Methodology: This was a cross-sectional study that was carried out in Butembo City especially at Cliniques Universitaires du Graben, the Katwa General Reference Hospital (HGR), the Kitatumba HGR and the Matanda Hospital from June 1st to December 31st, 2016 and involved 418 inpatients in the abdominal surgery department, of whom 52 undergoing re-intervention. Results: Overall 12.44% of patients underwent the abdominal re-intervention; women were affected in 67.3% against men in 32.7% of cases. The age group between 20 and 30 years old was the most affected. Gynecological and obstetric interventions represent 38.46% of initial intervention. Postoperative abdominal pain alone accounts for 48.1% of complaints. Postoperative peritonitis is the etiology of re-interventions in 57.7%; 8 patients (15.4%) died and 75% of deaths are due to septic shock. Conclusion: The abdominal re-interventions are more frequent in Butembo city. This remains a public health problem because of their heavy morbidity and mortality. Multi-visceral failure is the most common cause of death