Source of Support: None, Conflict of Interest: None
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A total of 38 smear positive confirmed multidrug resistant (MDR) pulmonary tuberculosis patients belonging to both sexes were inducted in this study. Their culture sensitivity tests to Mycobacterium tuberculosis revealed resistance to 2-5 drugs concomitantly. Initially the patients were admitted in the ward for detailed investigations and to examine the acceptability of pneumoperitoneum (PP) therapy, afterwards the patients were put on PP on weekly basis plus two drugs daily chemo-therapy in the form of isoniazid and thiacetazone or isoniazid and ethambutol irrespective irrespective of their culture sensitivity report. Out of 38, only 16 could complete PP therapy of two years duration as 16 patients defaulted and PP was terminated prematurely in six patients due to side effects. Out of 16 patients who completed PP therapy, the disease got arrested completely in 13 and their subsequent follow-up for one year revealed bacteriological relapse in two cases. Thus only 11 of 38 i.e 29% were found to be with healed diseases after one year of follow-up although amelioration of toxaemia, weight gain and sputum conversion were observed during therapy in 30, 21 and 17 cases respectively.
