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.