Mortality in typhoid intestinal perforation-a declining trend

Typhoid fever is an important public health problem in developing countries. Intestinal perforation is one of the leading fatal complications of typhoid fever. Typhoid perforation occurs more commonly in terminal ileum. Morbidity and Mortality associated with typhoid perforation are high (9-22%). However this study aims to know whether there are any changes of the same.

To analyse the clinical presentation, management, complications, morbidity and mortality associated with typhoid intestinal perforation and assess changing trends in mortality in typhoid intestinal perforation.

This is a retrospective observational study. Cases regarding the study have been analyzed by reviewing the patient records. It includes 40 patients who were diagnosed with typhoid intestinal perforation, admitted and treated in the Department of General Surgery from February 2011 to January 2012.

A total of 40 patients were considered for the study and their mean age was 35.75 years. 80% of patients were male. Pain abdomen was their main symptom which lasted for an average of 2.95 days. Leukocytosis (11,000 cells/cumm) was present in 57.5% patients. Single perforation was present in 31(77.5%) patients and primary closure was done in 30 of them. Culture sensitivity showed E coli as the main organism. Complications were seen in 42.5% of patients in post-operative period.

Early recognition, timely surgical intervention with appropriate surgery and antibiotics, and effective peri-operative care reduces the mortality in typhoid intestinal perforation.