Postoperative complications after surgery for typhoid ileal perforation in adults in Kumasi.
BACKGROUND
The surgical complications of typhoid ileitis such as ileal perforations (TIP) continue to cause many deaths especially in countries with poor sanitation and limited health care facilities.


OBJECTIVE
To assess and highlight the complications associated with typhoid ileal perforation


METHODS
A prospective study of the postoperative complications after closure of TIP was conducted between Jan. 2002 and Dec. 2005 at the Komfo Anokye Teaching Hospital (KATIH.)


RESULTS
A total of 248 patients aged between 16 and 54 years with a mean age of 24.9 (8.3) and a median of 23.5 years were operated upon for TIP. There were 180 males (72.6%) and 68 females (27.4%) with a male to female ratio of 4: 1. The diagnosis of TIP was based on clinical, radiological and operative findings. The over all complication rate was 49.3%. The most common postoperative complication was wound infection (52.4 %). The most serious were persistent peritonitis (34.7%) and enterocutaneous fistula (10.0%) with a mortality of 33.3 % and 22.2 % respectively. The overall mortality was 10.9%. These complications significantly increased the duration of hospital stay of survivors by several days (p<0.01)


CONCLUSIONS
Very serious complications occur after surgery for TIP in adults. These complications may contribute to the high mortality from this disease.
Oheneh-Yeboah
M
M
Department of Surgery, School of Medical Sciences, Kwame Nkrumah University of Science & Technology, Kumasi, Ghana. mikeohneneyeboah@yahoo.com
D015746:Abdominal Pain / Q000209:etiology; D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D005260:Female; D005869:Ghana / Q000453:epidemiology; D006801:Humans; D007077:Ileal Diseases / Q000382:microbiology* / Q000601:surgery; D007416:Intestinal Perforation / Q000382:microbiology / Q000601:surgery*; D007902:Length of Stay; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D011183:Postoperative Complications / Q000145:classification / Q000453:epidemiology*; D011446:Prospective Studies; D014435:Typhoid Fever / Q000150:complications / Q000601:surgery*