A Five-Year Review of Laparoscopic Gynaecological Surgeries in a Private-Owned Teaching Hospital, in Nigeria

Laparoscopic surgery is associated with shorter hospital stay and less post-operative morbidity. Cost, expertise and availability of equipment, however remain limitations to the range of surgeries available in low resource settings.

To determine the indications, the patient characteristics and the surgical outcomes of laparoscopic gynaecological surgeries in a Nigerian private tertiary level hospital.

This retrospective observational study included all gynaecologic laparoscopy procedures done between August 2016 and July 2021, at the Babcock University Teaching Hospital (BUTH). Data were extracted from the hospital records with the use of a proforma designed for this purpose and were analyzed using the SPSS version 21.0.

Laparoscopy accounted for 13.5% of gynaecological surgeries. They were majorly in nulliparous women (67.6%) of reproductive age (mean 33.9±10.2 years and median of 32 years). The commonest indication was secondary infertility (27.3%) and operative procedures were more commonly done (59.0%). The mean duration of surgery was 94.8±52.4 min and conversion to laparotomy rate was 8.6%. Operative procedures lasted longer (113.9±58.1 min) and accounted for most conversions, 10/12 (83.3%). Intraoperative complication rate was 2.2% and they were mostly (66.7%) entry related. The mean duration of hospitalization was 2.2± 1.6 days.

The prevalence and indications for laparoscopic surgeries were similar to findings from other parts of Nigeria. Operative procedures were however more commonly done. In spite of the sustained increase in procedure rates, a steady decline in the duration of surgery, conversion and complication rates occurred. Private hospitals may have potential for uninterrupted progression of laparoscopic gynaecocologic surgeries in Nigeria.