The Role of Urological Conditions in Cases Presenting to the Emergency Department with Acute Abdominal Pain: First Report from Somalia

Abstract

Objective: This study aimed to investigate the pattern and outcomes of Acute abdominal pain (AAP) in an adult population presented to the Emergency Department (ED) in the only tertiary care center of Somalia by analyzing the role of urological conditions in detail.

Materials and Methods: Demographic and clinical data of the adult (i.e., age>18) patients who presented to the ED for AAP between December 2021 and June 2022 were retrospectively analyzed. 

Results: During the study period, 600 patients presented to the ED with the chief complaint of AAP. The mean age of the participants was 56.7±12.4(15–93). Most (34.8%) patients were aged between 18 and 30. The most frequent diagnosis was NSAP(24%), followed by appendicitis(11.1%), bowel obstruction(7.2%), renal colic(6.8%), and biliary colic-cholecystitis(6.5%). Appendicitis, renal colic, bowel obstruction, and perforated peptic ulcer were more frequent in males than females. Among the 273(45,5%) patients admitted to the hospital, 168(54.9%) were male, and 105(35,7%) were female. While 24.2% of all admissions were due to appendicitis, 15.4% were due to intestinal obstruction.

Conclusions: Non-specific abdominal pain is the most common diagnosis in both age and gender groups despite being slightly more frequent in younger and female patients. In addition to NSAP, appendicitis, bowel obstruction, and renal colic are the most common diagnoses in patients who presented to ED with the chief complaint of AAP.