Efficacy of strictureplasty in tuberculous strictures of small intestine

To assess the efficacy of strictureplasty for tuberculous stricture of small intestine. This is a retrospective descriptive study, conducted at Liaquat University Hospital Jamshoro [LUH] during period of 5 years from July 2004 to June 2009. Sixty patients of small intestinal tuberculosis presented with stricture of small intestine and underwent strictureplasty were the subject of this study. The procedure was done conventionally in all cases, in 70% intestine was closed in two layers while in remaining it was done as single layer. Early complications were seen in 23 cases which included anastomotic leakage with fistula formation [9 cases [15%]], burst abdomen [5 cases [8.34%]] and subdiaphragmatic abscess [9 cases [15%]] The late complications observed after mean follow up of two years include intestinal obstruction that necessitated readmission was seen was in 9 cases [15%], however the re-exploration was required in five cases. Incisional hernia was seen in 9 cases [15%].Though the post operative complications are frequent after strictureplasty yet the procedure is safe and simple for tuberculous stricture of small intestine as it requires minimum expertise, less operative time and above all preserve gut's length