Postoperative tetanus

12 days after an operation for pericaecal abscess due to perforation of the appendix, a 57-year-old man developed severe tetanus requiring mechanical ventilation for 37 days. Additional complications--pneumonia with septicaemia, disseminated intravascular coagulopathy, prolonged renal failure--were...

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Bibliographic Details
Published in:	Deutsche medizinische Wochenschrift Vol. 114; no. 47; p. 1833
Main Authors:	Federmann, M, Kotzerke, M
Format:	Journal Article
Language:	German
Published:	Germany 24-11-1989
Subjects:	Abscess - surgery Appendicitis - surgery Cecal Diseases - surgery Disseminated Intravascular Coagulation - etiology Humans Intestinal Perforation - surgery Kidney Failure, Chronic - etiology Male Middle Aged Pneumonia - etiology Postoperative Complications Pseudomonas Infections - etiology Respiration, Artificial Rupture, Spontaneous Sepsis - etiology Tetanus - etiology Tetanus - prevention & control Tetanus - therapy Tetanus Antitoxin
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Summary:	12 days after an operation for pericaecal abscess due to perforation of the appendix, a 57-year-old man developed severe tetanus requiring mechanical ventilation for 37 days. Additional complications--pneumonia with septicaemia, disseminated intravascular coagulopathy, prolonged renal failure--were controlled by intensive medical measures. The tetanus was most likely of endogenous origin: Clostridium tetani occurs as a saprophyte in the gastrointestinal tract. It is recommended that tetanus immunization status of a patient should be checked before any operation on the gastrointestinal tract. If negative, prophylactic tetanus antitoxin should be administered.
ISSN:	0012-0472
DOI:	10.1055/s-2008-1066835