An 8-year review of ovarian cyst accidents at a tertiary health center in Northwestern Nigeria

• Main Authors: J C Ekweani, A Oguntayo, A Kolawole, M Zayyan
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Published: Wolters Kluwer Medknow Publications 2016-01-01
• Series: Tropical Journal of Obstetrics and Gynaecology
• Subjects: Accidents; cyst; Nigeria; Northwestern; ovarian.
• Online Access: http://www.tjogonline.com/article.asp?issn=0189-5117;year=2016;volume=33;issue=3;spage=307;epage=309;aulast=Ekweani

Background: Ovarian cyst accidents constitute about 3%–5% of gynecological emergencies. They are commonly benign and are of sudden onset. A retrospective study of this nature became necessary because benign diseases of the ovary have not received attention compared to their malignant counterparts. Methodology: A review of the operation register and patients' case folders was undertaken from January 2008 to October 2015 that underwent laparotomy. Information on the sociodemographics, symptomatology, signs, significant investigation results, findings at laparotomy, and histology was extracted and analyzed using percentages, ratio, and demographic parameters. Results: Ovarian cyst accidents formed 5.6% of emergency gynecological surgeries. The age range was 19–55 years with a mean 36.2 ± 10.2 years, 42.9% participants were Hausas, 50% Muslims, 71.4% multiparous, and 57.1% amenorrheic. The most common presenting symptom/sign was lower abdominal pains/adnexal tenderness (100%) and none presented with anemia or deranged blood chemistry. Most (66%) had the cyst on the right. The average diameter of the cysts was 9.7 cm, cystectomy was done in 42.9%, and the histology was benign in 100% of the cases. Conclusion: Most of the cases of ovarian cyst accidents were in the reproductive age group, in multiparous women, benign on histology and were not long-standing sufficiently to alter blood parameters such as the hematocrit and blood chemistry as they presented early due to the acute nature of manifestation.