PATTERN OF PRESENTATION AND CHOICE OF TREATMENT OF UTERINE FIBROIDS IN A TERTIARY HOSPITAL IN NORTH WESTERN NIGERIA

Ukwu Aaron Eze, Asma’u Isah Muhammad, Jamila Abubakar Garba*, Abubakar Abubakar Panti, Constance Egondu Shehu, and Abubakar Usman Mayana

ABSTRACT

Background: Uterine fibroids are the most common benign gynaecological tumours affecting women of reproductive age with a higher preponderance amongst Africans. Several aetiological factors have been suggested, with subtle variations in clinical presentation being reported in different studies. Objectives: This study aimed to review the common clinical presentation of uterine fibroids, choice of treatment, and post‑operative complications. Materials and method: It was a 5-year retrospective study in which the cases of uterine fibroids managed at Usmanu Danfodiyo University Teaching Hospital, Sokoto from 1st January 2015 to 31st December 2019 were reviewed. Data on socio-demographic characteristics, clinical presentations, risk factors, the type of fibroid, the treatment offered, and any post-operative complications were obtained and analyzed using SPSS version 20. Results: A total of 361 patients were seen during the study period which constituted 17.8% of the total gynaecological cases seen within the study period. Uterine fibroids are commonly seen in women in their third and fourth decades of life (70.81 %). The most common presentation was abdominal swelling accounting for 86.1% then menorrhagia 82.2%. Surgery remains the main modality of treatment as 89% of the cases had surgery. The most common post-operative morbidities were post-operative pain and haemorrhage accounting (42% and 34% respectively). Conclusion: Uterine fibroids accounted for 17.8% of the total gynaecological cases and more among women in their third and fourth decades of life. The most common presentation was abdominal swelling then menorrhagia. Abdominal myomectomy was the commonest surgical intervention.

Keywords: Uterine fibroids, Presentation, Treatment, Complication.