Peritonitis

 ICD9        = 567|

}} Peritonitis is inflammation(often due to infection) of the peritoneum, which is a two-layered serous membranecovering both the surfaces of the organs that lie in the abdominalcavity and the inner surface of the abdominal cavity itself. Since it is frequently life-threatening, acute peritonitis is a medical emergency. The prognosisfor untreated peritonitis is very poor.

Causes

A major cause of bacterial peritonitis is internal perforation of the gastrointestinal tract, contaminating the abdominal cavity with gastric contents and gut flora, the bacteriathat live in the digestive tract. Perforation may result as a complication of an intestinalforeign body, colonic diverticulum, or a ruptured appendix, a possible consequence of untreated acute appendicitis. The possibility of peritonitis is the reason why acute appendicitis warrants fast treatment (generally, appendectomy), and other possible causes equally require laparotomyfor inspection and treatment.

Signs and symptoms

Patients with peritonitis are frequently in great pain and may present in the fetal positionwith knees drawn up (this position reduces tension on abdominal muscles by compressing them). Since movement is painful, the abdomen is usually tender, and these patients may hold very still. The abdominal wall is usually rigid (Genuit and Napolitano, 2004). Pain may be localized or diffuse (Genuit and Napolitano, 2004). Patients may have nausea, vomiting, and fever(All Refer Health).

External links

• All Refer Health article on peritonitis
• Genuit T and Napolitano L. 2004. Peritonitis and Abdominal Sepsis. Emedicine.com
• Health square. 2004. Peritonitis.de:Peritonitis

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It uses material from the http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Peritonitis Wikipedia article Peritonitis.