Prevalence of intestinal tuberculosis amongst cases of bowel obstruction

ABSTRACT

Intestinal obstruction is a common problem which presents in the surgical wards usually as an emergency. The objective of this study was to determine the prevalence of tuberculosis as a cause amongst cases of intestinal obstruction. In this retrospective study carried out in 2003, 50 patients [38 males, 12 females] were admit-ted in Surgical Unit II of Civil Hospital, Karachi with the diagnosis of intestinal obstruction. Their age and sex was noted along with significant findings in the history and examination, operative findings and the subsequent treatment. Out of these patients, 36 [72%] had intestinal tuberculosis. The study further showed that about 80% of the tubercular patients had obstruction in the terminal ileum. The diagnosis of intestinal tuberculosis was not easy because there are no specific signs and symptoms