Surgical complications of typhoid fever

ABSTRACT

This is a prospective study, carried out in the Department of Paediatric Surgery. Chandka Medical College Hospital, Larkana from January 1993 to December, 1997. A total of 90 cases of typhoid fever with surgical complications were admitted in the unit. Of 90 patients, 88 had gut and 2 had gall bladder perforations. In majority of patients [61.2%], duration of fever was two or more weeks. Leucopenia was found in 33.3% and pneumoperitoneum in 72.2%; Widal test was positive in 33.3% and blood culture, though done in 40 patients, were positive in all. Laparotomy was done in 89 patients. In 70 patients single and in 17 patients, multiple ileal perforations were present. Surgical procedures performed were simple double layer closure [80], resection and anastomosis [5], hemicolectomy [2], and cholecystesctomy [2]. Postoperative complications occurred in 36 patients [44.4%]; wound infection being the most common complication [38.2%] in our series. Average hospital stay was 14.2 days. Seven patients [7.7%] died, one preoperatively and six postoperatively