First steps of laparoscopic surgery in a sub-Saharan African setting: a nine-month review at the Douala Gynaeco-Obstetric and Pediatric Hospital (Cameroon).

OBJECTIVES: To describe the first laparoscopic surgeries in a tertiary hospital in Cameroon. METHODS: We carried out a descriptive study at the Douala Gynaeco-Obstetric and Pediatric Hospital (DGOPH). We examined the files of the 45 patients who underwent laparoscopic surgery from November 1, 2015 to July 31, 2016. Descriptive statistics were computed for patients’ characteristics and surgical parameters. RESULTS: Mean (SD) age was 36.8(11.9) years. Women made up 86.7% of the sample. Twelve patients (26.7%) had a previous laparotomy. Cash deposit (86.7%) was the main mode of payment. Thirty-two (71.1%) laparoscopies were gynaeco-obstetrical (GO) and 13 (28.9%) were digestive. Main indications were infertility (59.4%) and chronic cholecystitis (30.8%) for GO and digestive laparoscopies respectively. Mean (SD) durations were 89.1(57.5) and 55.5(41.0) minutes for digestive and GO laparoscopies respectively. Mean (SD) costs were 1065.4 (406.1) and 934.2 (657.0) USD for digestive and GO laparoscopies respectively. Mean (SD) lengths of hospital stays were 5.5 (2.5) and 5.5 (2.5) days for digestive and GO laparoscopies respectively. Local staff carried out all GO laparoscopies while foreign (Belgian) experts did digestive cases. Only one (2.2%) complication (colic perforation) was registered. CONCLUSION: The beginnings of laparoscopy at the DGOPH were successful thanks to strong local leadership and Belgian technical assistance.