A rare complication of the great mimicker: free tubercular ileal perforation

Authors

  • S. P. Gayathre Institute of General Surgery, Madras Medical College, Rajiv Gandhi Government General Hospital, Chennai, Tamil Nadu, India
  • Kudiyarasu . Institute of General Surgery, Madras Medical College, Rajiv Gandhi Government General Hospital, Chennai, Tamil Nadu, India
  • R. Kannan Institute of General Surgery, Madras Medical College, Rajiv Gandhi Government General Hospital, Chennai, Tamil Nadu, India
  • N. Shajini Institute of General Surgery, Madras Medical College, Rajiv Gandhi Government General Hospital, Chennai, Tamil Nadu, India

DOI:

https://doi.org/10.18203/2349-2902.isj20211328

Keywords:

Abdominal tuberculosis, Ghon’s complex, Ileocaecal region, Perforation, Mesenteric vasculitis

Abstract

Primary intestinal tuberculosis is an uncommon form of extra-pulmonary tuberculosis. With non-specific manifestations, unusual presentations and no proven superior diagnostic modality, differentiation and diagnosis of abdominal tuberculosis is a difficult scenario. Undiagnosed, untreated cases may present with complications. Free perforation of small bowel due to tuberculosis is a rare complication (1-2%) because of adhesion formation and reactive peritoneal thickening; however, when it occurs is most feared for its association with high mortality. We report a case of an elderly male who presented with features of intestinal perforation, treated with emergency surgery and diversion ostomy for small bowel perforation which was diagnosed post-operatively to be of tubercular etiology. Acute care surgeons may be trapped in diagnosing such cases with its non-specific imaging findings, and hence must maintain a low threshold for surgical intervention in the emergency setting.

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Published

2021-03-26

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Section

Case Reports