title: [Postoperative tetanus].
abstract: 12 days after an operation for pericaecal abscess due to perforation of the appendix, a 57-year-old man developed severe tetanus requiring mechanical ventilation for 37 days. Additional complications--pneumonia with septicaemia, disseminated intravascular coagulopathy, prolonged renal failure--were controlled by intensive medical measures. The tetanus was most likely of endogenous origin: Clostridium tetani occurs as a saprophyte in the gastrointestinal tract. It is recommended that tetanus immunization status of a patient should be checked before any operation on the gastrointestinal tract. If negative, prophylactic tetanus antitoxin should be administered.
authors.affiliation: Medizinische Klinik, Städtisches Krankenhaus Singen.
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Federmann
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Kotzerke
mesh_terms: D000038:Abscess / Q000601:surgery*; D001064:Appendicitis / Q000601:surgery*; D002429:Cecal Diseases / Q000601:surgery; D004211:Disseminated Intravascular Coagulation / Q000209:etiology; D006801:Humans; D007416:Intestinal Perforation / Q000601:surgery*; D007676:Kidney Failure, Chronic / Q000209:etiology; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D011014:Pneumonia / Q000209:etiology; D011183:Postoperative Complications; D011552:Pseudomonas Infections / Q000209:etiology; D012121:Respiration, Artificial; D012422:Rupture, Spontaneous; D018805:Sepsis / Q000209:etiology; D013742:Tetanus / Q000209:etiology* / Q000517:prevention & control / Q000628:therapy; D013743:Tetanus Antitoxin
chemical_list: D013743:Tetanus Antitoxin
vernacular_title: Postoperativer Tetanus.