Pattern of emergency laparotomy in El Obied Hospital, Western Sudan

Background: Emergency laparotomy is a common surgical procedure, performed for a wide variety of intra-abdominal pathologies. Methods: this study is a prospective, descriptive for pattern of emergency laparotomy conducted at El Obeid Hospital during the period of one-year 2021. The data was collected by questionnaire from all patients who were subjected for emergency laparotomy and fulfilled the inclusion criteria. Results: There were 72 patients, 45 males (62.5%) and 27 (37.5%) females, with male to female ratio 1.7: 1. The majority of the patients were less than 40 years of age (84.8%) and the main age ± standard deviation of 24.65±16.202 years. The common indications are traumatic acute abdomen found in 26 patients (36%), perforated hollow viscous in 26 patients (36%) and acute intestinal obstruction in 20 patients (27.8%). The major cause of perforated hollow viscous was acute appendicitis in 21 patients (81%). Four patients developed surgical site infection and one of them developed a partial burst abdomen. The mortality rate was 1.7%. Conclusions: The most common indications for emergency laparotomy were abdominal trauma, perforated appendicitis and acute intestinal obstruction. The majority of the patients were discharged in good condition.