Different Presentations of Abdominal Tuberculosis at Mayo/Sir Ganga Ram Hospital, Lahore

Abstract

Prospective study carried out on 34 patients in the Department of Surgery at Mayo and Sir Ganga Ram Hospitals, Lahore. Aim was to look into the various presentations of abdominal tuberculosis and treatment offered to the patients. Abdominal tuberculosis effects young males and females in equal proportions. Most of the patients presented with advanced disease. 32% patients presented with peritonitis and 32% patients presented with strictures, Less common presentation were mass right iliac fossa, ascites and faecal fistula. Most of the patients had operative treatment in the form of resections (29%), repair of perforation (22%), biopsy (16%) ileostomies (96%), stricturoplasty (9%), drainage of abscesses (3.22%) and right hemicolectomy (9%). Only 8% of patients were managed conservatively. Our mortality was 2.9%. So tuberculosis of abdomen needs to be recognized earlier and prompt surgical intervention should be carried out, to avoid the disastrous complications.