Author(s)

Gabin Ulrich Kenfack^1,2*, Servais Albert Fiacre Bagnaka Eloumou^3,4, Winnie Tatiana Bekolo Nga^3,4, Guy Sadeu Wafeu¹, Paul Nkemtendong Tolefac¹, Agnès Malongue⁴, Mathurin Pierre Kowo¹, Christian Tzeuton^3,5, Firmin Ankouane Andoulo¹, Oudou Njoya^1,2, Henry Namme Luma^1,3, Dominique Noah Noah^3,6

¹Faculty of Medicine and Biomedical Sciences, The University of Yaoundé I, Yaoundé, Cameroon.
²Research Laboratory on Viral Hepatitis and Health Communication, Yaoundé, Cameroon.
³Faculty of Medicine and Pharmaceutical Sciences, The University of Douala, Douala, Cameroon.
⁴Internal Medicine Unit, Douala General Hospital, Douala, Cameroon.
⁵“Les Capucines” Medical Center, Douala, Cameroon.
⁶Deido District Hospital, Douala, Cameroon.

Background and Aims: Diagnostic colonoscopy allows exploration of the colonic mucosa. Indications are multiple. The purpose of this work was to describe the indications and to report the lesions observed during colonoscopy at the General Hospital of Douala. Methods: This was a cross-sectional study with retrospective data collection over a period of 7 years (January 1, 2010 to January 31, 2017). The data collected from the reports were socio-demographic characteristics, indications and lesions observed at colonoscopy. Binary logistic regression allowed us to identify the independent risk factors associated with the presence of tumors and polyps. Results: We included 719 exams. The main indications were rectorrhagia (29.5%), abdominal pain (25.9%) and constipation (17.8%). A colonic lesion was found in 60.1% of cases. A colorectal tumor accounted for 10.3% of cases. Factors independently associated with colonic tumor were complete colonoscopy (aOR: 0.167 95% CI [0.096 - 0.289], p < 0.001), presence of abdominal or rectal mass (aOR: 13.390 95% CI) [5.684 - 31.544], p < 0.001) and weight loss (aOR: 5.143, 95% CI [2.450 - 10.797], p < 0.001). Conclusion: The presence of weight loss, abdominal or rectal mass should motivate the realization of a complete colonoscopy in search of a colorectal tumor. The most observed lesions remain hemorrhoids, polyps and diverticulosis of the colon.

Colonoscopy, Indications, Colorectal Tumor, Limited Resources, Cameroon

Kenfack, G. , Eloumou, S. , Nga, W. , Wafeu, G. , Tolefac, P. , Malongue, A. , Kowo, M. , Tzeuton, C. , Andoulo, F. , Njoya, O. , Luma, H. and Noah, D. (2019) Indications, Yield and Outcome of Colonoscopy: A 7-Year Retrospective Study in a Resource-Limited Setting. Open Journal of Gastroenterology, 9, 49-58. doi: 10.4236/ojgas.2019.93008.