Epidemiological, clinical, and therapeutic aspects of urinary lithiasis in two hospitals of Douala

Abstract

Introduction: Urolithiasis refers to the presence of solid concretions at any level of the urinary tract [1]. The main objective was to study the epidemiological, clinical and therapeutic aspects of urolithiasis in the General and Laquintinie Hospitals of Douala.

Methodology: This was a descriptive cross-sectional study with retrospective data collection from January 2019 to December 2023 of patient files with a diagnosis of urolithiasis in which at least one imaging assessment was performed. Qualitative variables were represented as counts and percentages, and quantitative variable expressed by central tendency parameters.

Results: In our study, two-hospital prevalence was 3.7%. The most common age group was the 31-40 years group with a mean age of 36.64 (±10.11) years, predominantly males (59.9%). Urinary tract infection was the most common urological past history (35.9%). The most described clinical presentation was renal colic. CT scan was the most requested imaging test (64.5%), highlighting the ureteral anatomical preference of the pathology (57.1%). The most applied medical therapeutic modality was the use of analgesics, associated with dietary counselling. Two hundred patients underwent surgery (86.6%). Ureterolithotomy was the most performed surgical modality (36%).

Conclusion: Urolithiasis is common in adult male. Renal colic is its main presenting form. CT-Scan is the most requested imaging modality, and ureterolithotomy is the most commonly performed surgical therapeutic modality.