Ovarian Cyst Accidents Diagnosed at Laparotomy, experience from a Third-level Health Facility in Port Harcourt, Nigeria

Abstract
Background: Ovarian cyst accidents affect different age groups and usually present as acute abdomen, often requiring surgical intervention. Prompt diagnosis is necessary to maintain reproductive function and avoid mortality.

Objectives: To determine the sociodemographic characteristics, clinical management, and histological patterns of surgically identified ovarian cyst accidents at the University of Port Harcourt Teaching Hospital.

Methods: A retrospective review of all cases of accidented ovarian cyst at laparotomy was undertaken over an Eight-year period. Information on the socio-demographics, symptomatology, operative endings and histology was extracted and collated in a pre-structured spreadsheet. Analysis of data collated was done using IBM SPSS version 22. Results of the analysis were presented using descriptive statistics, figures and tables. Chi-square test was used to determine the association between categorical variables with P-value ¡Ü0.05 as significant Results: Ovarian cyst accidents constituted 123(6.1%) of 2,019 major Gynaecological surgeries (2,019). The age range was 10 –70 years with a mean age of 24.6 ±0.85 years. The majority of patients were in the age group of 21 – 30 years 64(52.0%), and Seventy patients (56.9%) were nulliparous. Abdominal pain was the commonest presentation 105(85.4%), while torsion 105(84.6%) was the most frequent accident. Most cases of accidents were in non-gravid patients 98(95.1%). Fifty-six (45.5%) of ovarian cyst accidents involved the right ovary. There was no significant relationship between age, laterality, parity, gravidity and ovarian accidents. All accidented ovarian cysts were histologically benign.

Conclusion: Accidented ovarian cysts were benign on histology and commonly seen in nulliparous women in their reproductive age group. Torsion is predominant; thus, prompt intervention is essential to conserve fertility and hormonal milieu.

Keywords: Ovary, Cyst, Accident, Port Harcourt