STUDY TO KNOW VARIOUS PRESENTATIONS OF ABDOMINAL TUBERCULOSIS

Objective: To examine different presentation styles of abdominal tuberculosis. Study design: A prospective study. Configuration and duration: In the Surgical Department Unit I of Services Hospital, Lahore for one year duration from July 2016 to July 2017. Methodology: All patients with abdominal tuberculosis with different presentation modes were selected. The diagnosis was based on physical examination, laboratory tests and clinical history. Patients who underwent surgery also recorded the preoperative findings and the procedure performed. Results: The mean age of the male and female patients was 33 (range, 14-66 years). Among the various presentations of abdominal tuberculosis were abdominal pain (88.46%), fever (84.6%), weight loss (69.2%), abdominal mass (46.1%) and abdominal ascites (26.9%). Surgical intervention was performed with 16 (61.5%) abdominal mass, (12.5%) cases of resection and anastomosis, (18.75%) Adhesiolysis, (25%) Loop ileostomy, (12.5%) stricturoplasty, limited right hemicolectomy (12.5%) and in (18.75%) perforation closure were performed. 4 patients died with 25% mortality rate. Conclusion: Diagnosis of the abdomen is difficult due to lack of specific symptoms and signs. However, the presumed clinical signs can be used for earlier detection. It is reserved for those presented as surgical exploration, simultaneous cases and emergencies