Typhoid enteric perforation

A review of 344 patients with typhoid perforation of the intestine is presented. Patients with enteric perforations should be treated with antibiotics, by fluid and electrolyte replacement and blood transfusion. Surgery is necessary to close the perforated gut and drain the contaminated peritoneum with the minimum surgical interference which will achieve these objectives. Although better conservative management has significantly reduced the mortality of typhoid perforation, early limited surgery is most important if good results are to be obtained.