Pattern of acute abdomen in Yirgalem Hospital, southern Ethiopia.

A retrospective analysis was undertaken on 229 cases of acute surgical abdomen surgically managed at Yirgalem hospital from January to December 1997. Small intestinal obstruction ranked the first and it was mainly due to small intestinal volvulus. Acute appendicitis was the second in the rank. Large intestinal obstruction was the third and it was mainly due to sigmoid volvulus. Typhoid perforation, primary peritonitis, perforated gastroduodenal ulcer, abdominal tuberculosis and empyema of the gallbladder in that order were the other observed causes of acute surgical abdomen. Analysis based on the specific causes of acute abdomen is of great value for early diagnosis and prompt treatment in clinical practice.