• C Beisland, S Kolltveit, B H Nilsen, and N H Hagness.
• Kirurgisk avdeling, Lillehammer fylkessykehus.
• Tidsskr. Nor. Laegeforen. 1998 May 10; 118 (12): 1860-2.

AbstractTetanus has become an uncommon disease in developed countries. Tetanus is caused by exotoxins from the bacteria Clostridium tetani. This microbe, which is obligate anaerobe, is present in soil, and animal and human faeces. The condition usually appears after contamination of wounds. However, reports have been published of tetanus occurring after both acute and selective gastrointestinal surgery. We present a case of severe postoperative tetanus in a 57 year-old woman who underwent bowel resection after strangulation of the ileum. The patient was treated on an intensive care unit and was artificially ventilated for 64 days. Seven months later she had fully recovered. Clinical presentation, diagnosis, treatment, and complications are discussed in the report. The diagnosis of tetanus is made by clinical observation. Nowadays, lack of suspicion of this condition may cause delay in administering proper treatment. Women and older men are often inadequately immunized. Doctors should therefore examine the immunization status of these groups of patients regularly.

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