Acute abdomens of parasitic origin: retrospective analysis of 135 cases

Objective. - To assess acute abdomens incidence of parasitic origin at Yaounde (Cameroon) and evaluate their different management modalities. Materials and methods. - Retrospective study from January 1973 to December 2002 of patients managed at Department of Surgery, Central Hospital, Yaounde (Cameroon). Results. - Among 3464 acute abdomens managed by laparotomy during this period, 135 patients (3.9%) had a parasitic origin. Ninety-seven patients (79%) were operated on before 1990. Among these 135 patients, 63 (47%) had peritonitis secondary to liver amoebic abscess intraperitoneal rupture, 24 (18%) had acute intestinal obstruction due to an ascaridioma, 21 (15%) had appendicitis of parasitic origin, 15 (11%) had amoebic typhlitis, 4 (3%) had pancreatitis and/or angiocholitis caused by the obstruction of ampulla of Vater by an adult ascaris worm, 4 (3%) had intestinal perforation by ascaris, and 4 (3%) had intussusception (tricocepbalus). Conclusions. - Incidence of abdominal emergencies of parasitic origin is unfrequent but not rare at Central Hospital, Yaounde, Cameroon. This incidence is decreasing over time. However, liver amoebic abscess intraperitoneal rupture is the most common cause of peritonitis and is still associated with postoperative high mortality rate. Preoperative diagnosis could lead to non-operative management that may be associated with better prognosis. (c) 2006 Elsevier SAS. Tous droits reserves.