Endourology in a Nigerian Tertiary Hospital – current level of practice and challenges

Background: Endourology is rapidly advancing in developed countries. However, the level of practice in public tertiary hospitals in developing countries is abysmally low. Objective: To review the current practice of endourology in a Nigerian public tertiary hospital and discuss the challenges faced during the study period. Setting: This review was done at the urology unit of the Obafemi Awolowo University Teaching Hospitals Complex [OAUTHC], Ile-Ife, Nigeria. Materials and Methods: A retrospective review of medical notes of all patients who have had diagnostic and therapeutic endourological procedure in our practice between June 2002 and May 2004 was carried out Results: Forty nine medical notes were available for review. A total of 51 procedures were carried out, representing twenty percent of the total urological procedures done by the unit during the study period. The commonest indication for an endourological procedure was bladder outlet obstruction. The commonest procedure performed was urethrocystoscopy. There was one complication and one failed procedure. Conclusion: Although endourological applications have many advantages over open urological procedures, endourological practice is low due to lack of equipment personnel and funding. Advances in endourological practice are desired and this will require improvement in infrastructure, training of personnel and a whole reorientation in our choices of the care we give our patients.