Surgical Treatment and Clinicopathological Profile among Patients diagnosed with Abdominal Tuberculosis: A Hospital-Centered Study

Abstract

  Background: Abdominal Tuberculosis is still a significant concern worldwide along with its therapeutical and diagnostic challenges, especially in developing countries. We aim to determine the surgical treatment outcome and the patients’ clinicopathological profiles, who were diagnosed with abdominal tuberculosis in the previous reported studies. Objective: We aim to determine the surgical treatment outcome and the patients’ clinicopathological profiles, who were diagnosed with abdominal tuberculosis and compare them with the previously reported studies. Methodology:  A prospective descriptive study among patients diagnosed with abdominal tuberculosis was conducted in the hospital from January 2018 to February 2023. Ethical approval was taken followed by informed consent from the patients. SPSS version 17.0 was used for statistical data analysis. Results: A total of 250 patients were included in this study. Their ages ranged from 19 to 65 years old. About 75.6% of patients were diagnosed with primary abdominal tuberculosis. Among the patients, 52.8% had intestinal obstruction, 39.2% peritonitis, multiple fistulae (in ano) in 2.8%, and abdominal masses in 5.2%. About 18% of the patients were tested positive for HIV. A total of 12.4% of patients underwent conservative anti-tuberculosis therapy and 87.6% underwent surgery. In patients 55.8%, the most common bowel was the ileo-caecal region. Out of 250 patients, 32.4% patients experienced post-operative complications and the rate of mortality was 18.8%. Conclusion: There is a diagnostic challenge in the case of abdominal tuberculosis requiring a clinical suspicion of high index. The factors contributing to survival are early diagnosis, early surgery treatment, and anti-tuberculosis therapy.