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Elroy Weledji

University of Buea Cameroon

Dr. Elroy Patrick Weledji holds a BSc (Hons) in Physiology, an MSc (Lond) in Neurological Science, an MBBChBAO (Ireland), and an FRCS (Edinburgh). He is currently a Professor of Surgery in the Faculty of Health Sciences at the University of Buea, Cameroon, where his main research interests are gastrointestinal surgery, coloproctology, and surgical oncology. In addition to his academic credentials, Dr. Weledji is a member of the British Association of Surgical Oncology (BASO) and was the first non-European member of the European Society of Coloproctology (ESCP). He has also received fellowships from both organizations, including an ESCP fellowship in pelvic floor surgery in St Gallen, Switzerland, in 2015, and a BASO Ronald Raven fellowship in the Aintree Hepatobiliary Centre in the UK in 2016. Dr. Weledji has published over 150 papers and a book entitled “Theoretical and Clinical Aspects of Surgery in the Tropics”. In recognition of his contributions to the field of surgical oncology, he was awarded the Ingeborg Hoerhager Award by the European Federation of Rectal Cancer in 2022.

2chapters authored

Latest work with IntechOpen by Elroy Weledji

Acute appendicitis is considered to be the most common surgical emergency, with a lifetime risk of 7%. Appendicitis - Causes and Treatments is a comprehensive collection of works by experts who possess practical experience in the management of appendicitis. This publication is particularly relevant given that, during the Covid-19 pandemic, controversy over the management of appendicitis was highlighted. The book addresses the epidemiology and etiology of appendicitis, laparoscopic versus open appendicectomy, appendicitis in childhood, neglected appendicitis and perioperative nursing care. Furthermore, it discusses the evaluation and indications for surgical or non-surgical management (antibiotherapy) or both. Patient selection is a critical determinant of non-operative management, given the shortcomings of this approach, which requires active close observation to detect any deterioration indicating the need for an appendicectomy.

Appendicitis - Causes and Treatments

Appendicitis - Causes and Treatments

Edited by Elroy Weledji

Chapters authored

The Dilemma of Acute Appendicitis

By Elroy Patrick Weledji

Acute appendicitis is one of a relatively dwindling number of conditions in which a decision to operate may be based solely on clinical findings. Regular re-assessment of patients and making use of the investigative options available will meet the standard of care expected by patients with acute abdominal pain. In this article, the greater importance of history and examination over investigations in the early diagnosis of acute appendicitis is emphasized. The ability to identify the presence of peritoneal inflammation probably has the greatest influence on the final surgical decision.

Part of the book: Actual Problems of Emergency Abdominal Surgery

Appendicitis: Epidemiology, Evaluation, and Controversy in Management

By Elroy Patrick Weledji

Appendicitis is the most common acute general surgical emergency. As no investigation is accurate, the diagnosis has to rely on clinical symptoms and signs or clinical scoring systems and as a result, frequently misdiagnosed. Blockage of the appendiceal lumen by faecolith is assumed to be the mechanism in many cases. Surgery for appendicitis only evolved when the mortality associated with perforated appendicitis was high. The fact that only few patients progressed to potentially lethal complications provided the argument for conservative antibiotic treatment. The indications for operative (surgery), non-operative (antibiotics), or both in management are discussed. Laparoscopic appendicectomy has become the gold standard of treatment but non-operative management with antibiotics may suffice in selected cases with uncomplicated appendicitis. The controversy in the management of the appendix mass/abscess between an expedient appendicectomy, or a combination of conservative management and interval appendicectomy is discussed. The novel minimally invasive techniques including natural orifice transluminal endoscopic surgery (NOTES) are evolving but for the limitations, cost, availability, and technical expertise required.

Part of the book: Appendicitis - Causes and Treatments

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