Abstract
A case of intestinal tuberculosis showing small intestinal obstruction is presented. The patient was a 42-year-old male who had intermittent lower abdominal pain. Following a barium enema and an upper gastrointesinal series during remission, multiple stenotic sites were detected from the jejunum to the ascending colon. With the abdominal pain reappearing and increasing, laparotomy was undertaken, which revealed multiple stenotic involvement of the small and large bowel. Small intestinal segmental resections were performed (a total length of 175cm), with a bypass procedure through the terminal ileum to the transeverse colon. Frozen sections of the intestinal and lymphnode specimens showed positive acid-fast bacilli in tuberculous granulomas. Cultures of the operative specimens were positive. Fibrotic consolidations were detected on chest X ray. Smears of the sputa were negative on admission. Afterwards, however, acid-fast bacilli were detected on bronchoalveolar lavage on POD 21. The operative time course was not eventful and antituberculous chemotherapy was performed after surgery. As of April, 1996, the patient was well.
