Abstract

Odimeagwe Patrick Ezechukwu

Respiratory distress of any cause in children is an emergency. Immediate attention is necessary to prevent mortality. Urgent attention could be medical or surgical depending on the cause. The aim of this study is to look at surgical causes of respiratory distress in children. Mode of presentation, gender difference and treatment is considered. Records of all children who are presented with respiratory distress of surgical aetiology were retrieved. All from paediatric surgical unit and otolaryngology unit of University of Port Harcourt Teaching Hospital. It is a prospective study, period of study between January 2008 to January 2012. One case of Bronchial foreign body was retrieved from records of cardiothoracic unit of the hospital. A total of 75 children had respiratory distress arising from surgical aetiology. There were 55 males and 20 females with m/f ratio of 2.8:1, ages from 0 to 5 years. Acquired causes have highest number with obstructive adenoid and Tonsil followed by laryngeal foreign body. High mortality rate was observed in the congenital causes, tracheoesophagial (TOF), recording highest mortality. Surgical causes of respiratory distress remain common among children. Obstructive adenoid and Tonsil followed by laryngeal foreign body remain topmost among various causes.