Upper gastrointestinal (UGI) endoscopy in Louga (Senegal): Patients’ profile and difficulties encountered

Introduction: This study aimed to determine the epidemiological, clinical and endoscopic profile of patients referred for upper gastrointestinal (UGI) endoscopy to the Clinique Magou in Louga and to analyze the difficulties encountered. Methods: We conducted a retrospective and descriptive study by analysing the reports of 248 gastrointestinal endoscopies performed between 1 January and 31 December 2014.Results: The average age was 39.9 years, with a sex ratio of 2.3 in favor of females. The majority of patients (56.5%) came from a rural area. Patients were mostly housewives (55.2%). The majority of prescribers were physicians (77.8%). Epigastralgia was the main indication. Hiatal hernia dominated (33.1%), followed by normal examinations (22.5%) and isolated gastroesophageal reflux disease (12.5%). Only 2 results out of 13 biopsies performed were reported. No requested endoscopic control was performed. Conclusion: Few upper gastrointestinal (UGI) endoscopies are performed in Louga. The typical patients’ profile is constituted by young housewives living in rural areas, complaining of gastralgies. Their endoscopic examination, instead of being normal, show hiatal hernia or gastroesophageal reflux disease. The difficulties are related to non-received anatomopathological results and to the absence of endoscopic control after treatment.