Abstract
Background:
Lower gastrointestinal bleeding (LGIB) is a leading cause of mortality and morbidity in Nigeria. Endoscopy is vital for the diagnosis of LGIB. Currently, there is no published data on LGIB in Cross River State, Nigeria.
Aims and Objectives:
This study aims to report the endoscopic findings in our patients with LGIB in Calabar, Cross River State (CRS).
Methodology:
This was a retrospective (observational descriptive) study of patients with LGIB who had colonoscopies performed at two health facilities in Calabar, CRS, from November 2014 to May 2024. Patients’ demographics and endoscopy findings were obtained from the endoscopy registers, entered into a spreadsheet, and analyzed statistically using Statistical Package for the Social Sciences (SPSS) version 20 software. Continuous variables were summarized using means ± standard deviation, whereas frequencies and percentages were used for categorical variables.
Results:
A total of 505 colonoscopies were performed during the study period. Three hundred and sixty-one (361, 71.5%) of these cases had LGIB as an indication for the procedure. There were 256 males (70.9%) and 105 females (29.1%) with a mean age of 53.7 (SD ±15.3) years. Hemorrhoids (124, 34.3%) followed by suspected colorectal/anorectal malignancy (81, 22.4%) and diverticular disease (58, 16.1%) were the patients’ main pathologies identified.
Conclusion:
Endoscopy is important in the diagnosis of LGIB. Hemorrhoids and suspected colorectal/anorectal malignancy are the leading causes of LGIB in our environment, respectively.
Key words: Keywords: Calabar, Colonoscopy, Colorectal Cancer, Diverticulosis, Hemorrhoids, Lower gastrointestinal bleeding.
|
