Practice of Laparoscopic Surgery in Yokadouma District Hospital/Cameroon

Background: Laparoscopic surgery has many advantages among which are, decrease post operatory pain and complications. It’s practice in the capital of Cameroon is still a luxury and it is almost non-existent in peripheral zones. The aim of this study is to present the results of the first laparoscopy surgeries done at the Yokadouma district hospital located in the east region at 600 km from Yaoundé. Methods: This is a descriptive prospective study carried out from march 2020 to march 2021 in the general surgery department of the Yokadouma district hospital. Patients operated by laparoscopy during this period were included in the study giving a sample size of 40 patients. The data collected were analyzed by “Census software and Survey Processing System” (CSPRO). Results: Majority of patients, 57.5% were males and aged between 16 and 30 years (32.5% of cases). Most patients (30% of patients) were farmers. Transabdominal preperitoneal prosthesis plasty for hernia represented 55% of interventions followed by appendicectomy (15%) and cholecystectomy (7.5%). Two procedures (0.8%) required conversion into open surgery. Post-operative complications were very rare and were encountered just by one patient who presented a parietal suppuration. Interventions in 77% of cases cost less than 200,000 CFA FRANCS (400$). Conclusion: The example of Yokadouma shows that laparoscopy should be developed in peripheral zones so that its residents can benefit from its multiple advantages.