Defunctioning ileostomy for typhoid ileal perforations: Out of the frying pan into the fire?

Abstract

Typhoid ileal perforation (TIP) is a common surgical emergency in low-middle income countries (LMICs). Its high surgical morbidity and mortality is due to its often late presentation or diagnosis, the patient's malnutrition, severe peritoneal contamination and unavailability of intensive care in most peripheral hospitals. This prompted the philosophy of minimizing the crisis by avoiding any repair or anastomosis, limiting the surgery in these physiologically compromised patients and performing only a temporary defunctioning ileostomy (DI) which could then be closed 10–12 weeks later.