ABSTRACT
Objective: to determine the clinical spectrum and surgical outcome of gastro-intestinal tuberculosis
Study design: descriptive case series
Place and Duration of study: department of General surgery ward 3 Jinnah Postgraduate Medical Center [JPMC] Karachi, from June 2010 - July 2015
Methodology: all patients who were diagnosed as cases of gastrointestinal tuberculosis and underwent operative procedures were included. Data was collected on a structured proforma. The variables collected included age of the patients, gender, clinical presentation, surgical procedures performed and outcome
Results: a total of 100 patients were managed. There were 67 female and 33 male patients. Female to male ratio was 2:1. The minimum age was 13 year and maximum 50 year with the mean age of 32 year. Apart from the constitutional symptoms like nausea, vomiting and low grade fever, abdominal pain was the commonest presentation. Eighty-eight patients were operated. End ileostomy, limited right hemicolectomy and resection anastomosis with primary repair were the commonly performed procedures. Two patients developed enterocutaneous fistulae. Five patients presented with septic shock and died
Conclusion: intestinal TB had varied presentation. It was found more frequently in females. Fever and weight loss were common presentations. High index of suspicion must be exercised in making a diagnosis