[The surgical complications of typhoid fever: a report of 10 cases]

This is a retrospective review of 10 consecutive patients with intra-abdominal complications of typhoid fever requiring surgical treatment, during a four-year period at the Instituto Nacional de la Nutrición Salvador Zubirán. There were 7 males and 3 females with an average age of 33.9 years. In 80 per cent of the cases Salmonella typhi was obtained in blood and bone narrow cultures. Five cases developed terminal ileum perforations, 4 massive bleeding related to ulcerated typhoid ileitis and one patient was operated on with the preoperative diagnosis of acute abdomen during the course of severe, toxic, typhoid fever. At laparotomy, no abnormalities were found. Five patients were treated with right hemicolectomy, 3 with local resections and primary closure, and another one, with segmental terminal ileum resection and end to end anastomosis. One patient died of mixed shock and multiple organ failure. This event was secondary to partial dehiscence of the ileo-transverse anastomosis and massive bleeding. Four patients had complications; a) pneumonia, b) urinary tract infection, c) splenic abscess that required splenectomy and: d) intestinal obstruction. All patients were treated with chloramphenicol. We found a high morbidity and mortality rate of the typhoid fever complications. The surgical resection and specific antibiotic therapy are the most effective treatment, however, complications can appear during its treatment.