Typhoid Intestinal Perforations: Has the Clinical Importance Decreased in Eastern Anatolia for 36 Years?

Objective: Typhoid fever (TF) is an important health problem in developing countries, and typhoid intestinal perforation (TIP) is a serious complication of TF. The present report aims to determine the clinical importance of TIPs for the last 36 years in our region, eastern Anatolia.

Materials and Methods: The clinical records of 84 surgically treated cases with TIPs were reviewed retrospectively.

Results: When the last 36-year period was sectioned by 6-year periods, the distribution of TIPs was found as 39 (46.4% of total), 31 (36.9%), 7 (8.3%), 4 (4.8%), 2 (2.4%) and 1 (1.2%), respectively. The mean age of the patients was 37.1 years (range: 7-68 years), and 66 patients (78.6%) were male. As a surgical procedure, 34 patients (40.5%) had primary repair, 9 (10.7%) had wedge resection with primary repair, 9 (10.7%) had resection with primary anastomosis, 28 (33.3%) had resection with ileostomy, and 4 (4.8%) had exteriorization. Complications were seen in 71 patients (84.5%), while the mortality rate was 10.7% (9 patients).

Conclusion: Although eastern Anatolia is an endemic region for TF, a certain decrease in the incidence of TIPs was found for the last 36 years. Keeping in mind the TIP, patients with TF may improve the prognosis of this serious disease.