Upper Gastrointestinal Endoscopy in El Obeid, Western Sudan: Analysis of the First 1150 Cases.

Objectives: To study the pattern of upper gastrointestinal diseases as appeared after introduction of endoscopic services for the first time in El Obeid, Western Sudan. Patients and Methods: This is a retrospective descriptive study. The records of individuals who underwent upper gastrointestinal endoscopies during 2003 to 2007 in El Obeid Police Hospital and El Obeid Teaching Hospital were reviewed. The data were analyzed for gender, age, locality and the outcomes of the procedure. Results: 1150 upper gastrointestinal procedures were performed. There were 656 males (57%). The mean age was 42.5 years (± 17.1 STD). 65% were between 21 and 50 years of age. 26.3% of the persons endoscoped were found to be macroscopically normal. Of those who had positive endoscopic findings; 29.7% had oesophagitis, 36.9% chronic gastritis and 16.3% duodenitis. Cancer of the oesophagus was diagnosed in 5.9% of cases while cancer of the stomach in 4.5%. Duodenal ulceration was seen in 5.6% of patients and oesophageal varices were found in only 2.7% of cases. Conclusion: Upper gastrointestinal endoscopy is a safe and useful procedure for investigating patients with gastrointestinal complaints. Expansion of the service with the provision of more endoscopes, more relevant accessories and training is recommended to supplement diagnosis and facilitate therapeutic measures. Keywords: Endoscopy, gastrointestinal, Western Sudan.Sudan Journal of Medical Sciences Vol. 3 (2) 2008: pp. 91-9