Spectrum of otorhinolaryngology diseases: A six-year review of operated patients in a tertiary institution

Background: Although the specialty of Otorhinolaryngology is regarded as one of the oldest surgical specialties that has its site of action/activity hidden in orifices, its lustre and relevance in the care of surgical pathologies have continued to grow across age groups irrespective of nationality, gender, or socio-economic class. This study aimed determine was to determine the spectrum of operated patients at the Otorhinolaryngology Department of tertiary health facility. Materials and Methods: A descriptive retrospective study was carried out in Port Harcourt, among total population of operated patients, using the operation registers of the Otorhinolaryngology Department of the Rivers State University Teaching Hospital from February 2018 to May 2024. Data was analyzed and presented in tables. Results: There were 168 (57.3%) males and 122 (42.3%) females, and their mean age was 34.7 years. Patients who were less than 10 years of age (n = 191, 65.9%) were in the majority. The most common surgical pathology was adeno-tonsilitis (n = 168, 57.9%) followed by foreign body impactions (n = 20, 6.9%), and tonsilitis (n = 15, 5.2%). One hundred and sixty-eight patients (60%) had adenotonsillectomies, 20 (6.9%) had EUA and foreign body extraction, while 15 (5.2%) had tonsillectomies. Conclusion: Children under 10 years of age were the bulk of surgical workload of the ENT Department. The most commonly performed surgeries were adenotonsillectomies and foreign body extraction