Abstract

Introduction: Endoscopy holds an important place in the diagnosis and treatment of upper gastrointestinal (UGI) conditions. This study aimed to describe the characteristics, indications and findings of UGI endoscopy at Al-Gamhoria Teaching Hospital.

Methods: A retrospective, descriptive, hospital-based study was conducted during a period of 15 months (January 2014 to March 2015) in the GI endoscopy unit at Al-Gamhoria Teaching Hospital. Records of all patients who underwent UGI endoscopy were reviewed and information pertinent to the objectives were extracted using a data collection form. For statistical data entry and analysis, Statistical Package for Social Science (SPSS, 20) was used.

Result: A total of 259 patients (132 males and 127 females) with a mean age 43.9 ± 17.8 years (ranged 13-89 years), were endoscoped. Gastroenterologists performed 95.8% of the endoscopies, the remaining was done by general surgeons, and all procedures were diagnostic. Epigastric pain (57.1%), gastroesophageal reflux disease symptoms (33.7%), persistent vomiting (18.9%) and UGI bleeding (14.9%) were the commonest indications for endoscopy. Gastritis or duodenitis (39%), hiatus hernia (22.4%), esophagitis (20.5%) and varices (9.3%) were the commonest endoscopic findings. Normal endoscopy was reported in 23.6% patients. There were eleven patients with UGI cancer (4.2%), nine of them were gastric cancer.

Conclusion: Despite the challenges of poor equipment and training in a resource poor setting, endoscopy can be performed competently with good outcomes.

Keywords: Gastrointestinal Tract, Endoscopy, Indications, Diagnosis, Aden.

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