title: Amebic perforation of the colon: rare and frequently fatal complication.
abstract: Amebic colitis perforation is a rare clinical form of amebiasis characteristically associated with high morbidity and mortality. We here present our series of eight patients with amebic colitis perforation. These patients represent 5% of 150 patients hospitalized during the same period for chronic amebic colitis. Only 50% of our patients had a correct preoperative diagnosis, and signs of generalized peritonitis such as rebound tenderness or muscular rigidity were not as common as might have been expected. Our mortality rate was 50% despite aggressive surgical treatment. Every effort should be made to have an early diagnosis, which would lead to early treatment with antiamebic agents, earlier and more limited surgery, and improved survival of these patients.
authors.affiliation: Department of General Surgery, Hacettepe University Medical School, PK:06100 Sihhiye/Ankara, Turkey. mehmetozdogan01@superonline.com
authors.forename: Mehmet
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Ozdogan
authors.forename: Atac
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Baykal
authors.forename: Omer
authors.initials: O
authors.lastname: Aran
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000562:Amebiasis / Q000150:complications* / Q000601:surgery; D003108:Colonic Diseases / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000209:etiology* / Q000469:parasitology* / Q000601:surgery; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007416:Intestinal Perforation / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000209:etiology* / Q000469:parasitology* / Q000601:surgery; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged