Patterns of Emergency Surgical Diseases at a Secondary Care Teaching Hospital

Background: Despite effective recording practices, there are no published data on surgical emergencies at Sohar Hospital. Understanding this data will enable policymakers and surgeons to enhance the efficiency, cost-effectiveness, and quality of emergency services, ultimately improving patient care. This study aims to document the patterns of emergency surgical diseases at Sohar Hospital and the immediate outcomes of their management. Methods: This is a descriptive, prospective study of patients admitted to Sohar’s surgical emergency department between February 10 and March 10, 2023. Ethical approval was obtained, and data collection was performed using a form. Analysis was conducted using SPSS. Results: The study involved 272 patients. Among them, 31 (11.4%) were trauma patients, while 241 (88.6%) were non-trauma patients. Most trauma patients (80%) were under the age of 42, and 71% experienced road traffic accidents. More than half of the non-trauma patients (53.5%) presented with an acute abdomen, of which 44% reported nonspecific abdominal pain. The most commonly diagnosed acute abdominal condition was appendicitis, followed by cholecystitis, intestinal obstruction, diverticulitis, and peptic perforations. Regarding the immediate outcomes, 46.7% of the patients were treated in the emergency department and discharged, 22.1% were admitted and operated on, 16.2% were admitted and treated conservatively, 7.4% discharged themselves against medical advice, and 5.5% were referred to other specialties. The mortality rate was 2.2%, primarily due to sepsis. Conclusion: The study revealed the pattern of emergency surgical disease at Sohar Hospital, patient demographics, and treatment outcomes. This data is essential for effective resource allocation and improving patient care. Further research is necessary.