Abstract
Background: General anaesthesia (GA) in developing countries is still a high-risk practice, especially in Africa, accompanied with high morbidity and mortality. No study has yet been conducted in Butembo to determine the mortality related to GA practice. The main objective of this study was to assess mortality related to GA in Butembo. Methods: This study was a retrospective analytic study of patients who underwent surgery under GA in the 2 main teaching hospitals of Butembo from January 2011 to December 2015. Data were collected from patients file, anaesthesia registries and were analysed with SPSS 26. Results: From a total of 921patients, male and female patients were 539 (58.5%) 382 (41.5%) respectively. A total of 83 (9.0%) patients died. The overall perioperative mortality rate was 90 per 1,000. From the 83 deaths, 38 occurred within 24h representing GA related mortality of 41 per 1,000. There was a global drop in mortality from 2011 to 2015. The risk factors of death were neonate and senior adult age, emergency operation, ASA physical status more than 2 and single deranged vital sign preoperatively. The occurrence of any complication during GA increased the risk of death. Anaesthesia duration more than 120 minutes increased mortality as well as visceral surgeries/laparotomies. Ketamine was the most employed agent. Conclusion: GA related mortality is very high in Butembo. Improved GA services and outcomes can be obtained by training more anaesthesia providers, proper patients monitoring, enhanced the infrastructure, better equipment and drugs procurement.
Correction to: General anaesthesia related mortality in a limited resource settings region: a retrospective study in two teaching hospitals of Butembo
