A comparison between colorectal surgical admissions in Maori and nonMaori

To compare Maori with nonMaori colorectal surgical admissions to a specialised colorectal unit in a teaching hospital.

All patients admitted to the colorectal service of the university department of surgery, Wellington, New Zealand between April 1975 and March 1990 have been entered into a computerised data base. Patients claiming to be Maori or of Maori descent were compared, in relation to colorectal diagnosis, type of admission and surgery and surgical complications, with those designated European or other.

There were 90 Maori admissions (47 male, 43 female) and 1842 nonMaori admissions (1007 male, 835 female). The urgency of admission was similar in both groups. There were no significant differences in admission rates for obstruction, perforation, bleeding, diverticular disease, or anorectal abscess but more Maori seemed to have problems with haemorrhoids and perineal condylomata acuminata. More nonMaori were admitted with colorectal cancer. The frequencies of most major operations were similar in the two groups studied, although haemorrhoidectomy was more common in the Maori. A higher proportion of nonMaori patients had a consultant surgeon as the primary operator. The overall complication rates, with the exception of urinary tract infections were similar in both groups. One Maori patient died and there were 31 nonMaori deaths.

There was no evidence that Maori had either less access to the public hospital system or that surgical colorectal diseases were more neglected. In general hospital admission rates for colorectal diseases in Maori and nonMaori were remarkably similar.