Paediatric Surgical Services in a New Private Tertiary Health Facility in South West Nigeria: Early Experiences and Preliminary Outcomes

Abstract

Background: About a third of the global burden of disease is estimated to be surgical. Surgical conditions are common in the paediatric age group, making paediatric surgical care an important component of global health. The study aimed to describe the spectrum of paediatric surgical conditions presenting to a new tertiary healthcare facility, as well as the nature of the procedures performed and their outcomes.  Materials and Methods: This was a retrospective, descriptive, hospital-based, single-centre study involving a review of all paediatric surgical cases managed over an 18-month period at a new private tertiary healthcare facility in South West Nigeria. Data on patients’ demographics, indications for surgical intervention, procedures performed, and outcomes were extracted from electronic medical records and analysed using descriptive statistics. Results: A total of 68 patients underwent 68 surgical procedures during the study period. The majority were male (58/68; 85.3%), giving a male-to-female ratio (M:F) of 5.8:1.0. Intact prepuce requiring circumcision accounted for the highest number of cases (28/68; 41.2%), followed by obstructive adenoidal disease (7/68; 10.3%), hernia (3/68; 4.4%), and ankyloglossia (3/68; 4.4%). Most procedures (59/68; 86.8%) were elective, while 37 (54.4%) were minor procedures performed as day cases. One post-operative death was recorded, giving an overall survival rate of 98.5%. Conclusion: This small, single-centre study provides an overview of the spectrum of paediatric surgical presentations and procedures encountered during the early experience of a new private tertiary healthcare facility in South West Nigeria. The findings suggest that a range of paediatric surgical conditions can be managed with favourable outcomes when appropriately identified and promptly treated. The small sample size and single-centre retrospective design limit the generalisability of the findings. Larger, multicentre studies would provide a more comprehensive understanding of paediatric surgical patterns and outcomes in the region.