Indications and Findings of Upper Gastrointestinal Endoscopy at a District Hospital in Ghana: A Retrospective Study.

BACKGROUND AND AIMS: Gastrointestinal diseases are a significant global health issue, with symptoms from these conditions negatively affecting quality of life and causing substantial economic consequences. Esophagogastroduodenoscopy, also referred to as upper gastrointestinal endoscopy, is an important and safe procedure used for both diagnosis and treatment in the field of gastroenterology. This study sought to assess the characteristic clinical indications and endoscopic findings of individuals presenting at Methodist Hospital, Wenchi, Ghana.

METHODS

A retrospective analysis was conducted by examining the medical records of patients who underwent upper gastrointestinal endoscopy from April 2023 to June 2024.

RESULTS

Out of 405 patients who underwent upper gastrointestinal endoscopy during the study period, 396 were included in the subsequent analysis. The average age of patients was 43.7 years with a standard deviation of 16.6 and ranging from 12 to 100 years. Approximately 42.9% of the patients were males. Dyspepsia was the most common reason for upper gastrointestinal endoscopy (60.9%), followed by retrosternal chest pain (17.7%), heartburn (12.1%) and upper gastrointestinal bleeding (3.8%). Results of upper gastrointestinal endoscopy were normal in 15.2% of patients. The most prevalent pathologies of the esophagus, stomach and duodenum were gastroesophageal reflux disease (17.4%), gastritis (31.8%), and duodenitis (4.5%), respectively.

CONCLUSION

Dyspepsia was the primary indication for endoscopic evaluation of the upper gastrointestinal tract. The most prevalent pathological finding was gastritis, followed by gastroesophageal reflux disease, gastric ulcer, hiatal hernia and duodenitis. Esophagogastroduodenoscopy is an essential investigative tool for diagnosing upper gastrointestinal tract pathologies.