Peritonitis definition

Peritonitis Main Page
Patient Information
Overview
Causes
Classification Spontaneous Bacterial Peritonitis Secondary Peritonitis
Differential Diagnosis

Editor-In-Chief: C. Michael Gibson, M.S., M.D. [1]; Associate Editor(s)-in-Chief: Shivani Chaparala M.B.B.S [2]

Overview

Peritonitis is defined as inflammation of the peritoneum (a serosal membrane which lines the inner wall of the abdominal cavity and covers most of the abdominal organs) from any cause.

Definition

Peritonitis is defined as inflammation of the peritoneum (a tissue that lines the inner wall of the abdominal cavity and covers most of the abdominal organs) from any cause. Contrast to peritonitis, Intrabdominal infection is defined as the inflammation of peritoneum due to infectious cause.

Primary or Spontaneous Peritonitis	Secondary Peritonitis	Tertiary Peritonitis
Primary peritonitis/ spontaneous bacterial peritonitis (SBP) represents a group of diseases with different causes characterized by ascitic fluid infection of the peritoneal cavity without an evident surgically treatable intra-abdominal source of infection. It is usually associated with cirrhosis and ascites in adults. Primary peritonitis lacks an identifiable anatomical derangement.	Secondary peritonitis is defined as the infection of the peritoneum due to spillage of organisms into the peritoneal cavity resulting from hollow viscus perforation, anastomotic leak, ischemic necrosis, or other injuries of the gastrointestinal tract.	Tertiary peritonitis is defined as the persistant or recurrent intra-abdominal infection that occur in ≥48 hours following the successful and adequate surgical source control of primary or secondary peritonitis.

References

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