Peritonitis overview

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]

Synonyms and keywords: Acute bacterial peritonitis, acute generalized peritonitis, acute peritonitis, abscess of suppurative peritonitis, acute suppurative peritonitis, purulent peritonitis, subphrenic peritonitis, pelvic peritonitis, acute serositis, aseptic peritonitis, chronic peritonitis, continuous ambulatory peritoneal dialysis associated peritonitis, fungal peritonitis, granulomatous peritonitis, peritoneal dialysis-associated peritonitis, serositis, chemical peritonitis, neonatal peritonitis, tuberculous peritonitis, peritoneal abscess, spontaneous bacterial peritonitis, female, benign paroxysmal peritonitis, pyogranulomatous serositis, perforation peritonitis, CAPD peritonitis, primary peritonitis, secondary peritonitis, tertiary peritonitis, Culture-negative neutrocytic ascites, Monomicrobial non-neutrocytic bacterascites.

Overview

Peritonitis defined as inflammation of peritoneum ( serosal membrane lining the abdominal cavity and abdominal viscera) is associated with high mortality rate due to bacteremia and sepsis syndrome. Most common causes of peritonitis ~ 80% in adults include perforation of the gastrointestinal or biliary tract.Other causes include Cirrhosis (frequently the result of alcoholism), and peritoneal dialysis associated peritonitis. Peritonitis can also result from injury, contamination with microorganisms, chemicals, or both. It may be localised or generalised, generally has an acute course, and may depend on either infection (often due to rupture of a hollow viscus) or on a non-infectious process.Chronic peritonitis is usually seen in tuberculous infection.Patients usually present with severe abdominal pain, and tenderness, fever, chills, nausea and vomiting. Peritonitis generally represents an emergency medical/surgical condition that requires prompt medical attention and treatment.

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.

Historical Perspective

The first reports of SBP appeared in the German and French literatures between 1907 and 1958. Krencker 1907; Brule et al 1939; Cachin 1955; Navasa et al 1999 described that ascitic fluid infections were most common in patients with cirrhosis. Spontaneous bacterial peritonitis (SBP), reported by Caroli and Platteborse (1958) has had its importance increased since Kerr and colleagues (1963) and Conn (1964) published two papers about this cirrhosis complication almost simultaneously. Kerr and colleagues (1963) described 11 episodes of ascitic fluid infection in 9 cirrhotic patients while Harold O.Conn , M.D, a world-renowned hepatologist (1964) introduced the term “spontaneous bacterial peritonitis” for the first time in English literature.

Classification

Peritonitis can be classified based on the etiology or based on the ascitic fluid analysis or base on the clinical setting in which peritonitis is present. Among them the major classication is based on the etiology, peritonitis can be classified into 3 subtypes: primary, secondary, and tertiary peritonitis.

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.

Pathophysiology

Peritonitis results from contamination of normal sterile peritoneal cavity with infections or chemical irritants.Release of bile or gastric juices initially causes chemical peritonitis, infection occurs when bacteria enter and contaminate the peritoneal cavity.Bacterial peritonitis is usually caused by normal enteric flora like E.coli, Klebsiella. Inflammatory process causes shift of fluid into the peritoneal cavity(third spacing) which leads to hypovolemia, septicemia and multi-organ failure resulting in death of the patient if not adequately diagnosed and treated early.

Causes

There are two forms of peritonitis.Spontaneous bacterial peritonitis (SBP) is the result of an infection of the fluid in the peritoneal cavity. Liver or kidney failure can cause this condition. Patients on peritoneal dialysis for kidney failure are also at an increased risk for SBP.Secondary peritonitis is usually due to an infection that has spread from GI tract due to perforation of the hollow viscus.The most common cause of peritonitis are perforation of a hollow viscus such as perforation of the distal esophagus (Boerhaave syndrome), of the stomach (peptic ulcer, gastric carcinoma), of the duodenum (peptic ulcer), of the remaining intestine (e.g. appendicitis, diverticulitis, Meckel's diverticulum, IBD, intestinal infarction, intestinal strangulation, colorectal carcinoma, meconium peritonitis), or of the gallbladder (cholecystitis). Other causes of infected peritonitis include spontaneous bacterial peritonitis and disruption of the peritoneum, such as in cases of trauma, surgical wounds, continuous peritoneal dialysis, and intra-peritoneal chemotherapy. Causes of non-infected peritonitis include endometriosis, blunt abdominal trauma, gastric carcinoma, peptic ulcer, pelvic trauma, and pancreatitis.

Risk Factors

Patients with liver disease are at increased risk. Risk factors for liver disease include alcoholic cirrhosis and other diseases that lead to cirrhosis, such as viral hepatitis (Hepatitis B or C). Spontaneous peritonitis also occurs in patients who are on dialysis for kidney failure.

Natural History, Complications and Prognosis

With treatment, patients usually do well. Without treatment, the outcome is usually poor. However, in some cases, patients do poorly even with prompt and appropriate treatment.

Diagnosis

History and Symptoms

The main manifestations of peritonitis are acute abdominal pain, tenderness, and guarding, which are exacerbated by moving the peritoneum, e.g. coughing, flexing the hips, or eliciting the Blumberg sign (a.k.a. rebound tenderness, meaning that pressing a hand on the abdomen elicits pain, but releasing the hand abruptly will aggravate the pain, as the peritoneum snaps back into place).

Abdominal pain and tenderness: The localization of these manifestations depends on whether peritonitis is localized (e.g. appendicitis or diverticulitis before perforation), or generalized to the whole abdomen; even in the latter case, pain typically starts at the site of the causing disease. Peritonitis is an example of acute abdomen.

Laboratory Findings

A diagnosis of peritonitis is based primarily on clinical grounds, that is on the clinical manifestations described above; if they support a strong suspicion of peritonitis, no further investigation should delay surgery. Leukocytosis and acidosis may be present, but they are not specific findings. Plain abdominal X-rays may reveal dilated, oedematous intestines, although it is mainly useful to look for pneumoperitoneum (free air in the peritoneal cavity), which may also be visible on chest X-rays. If reasonable doubt still persists, an exploratory peritoneal lavage may be performed (e.g. in cause of trauma, in order to look for white blood cells, red blood cells, or bacteria).

Treatment

Surgery

Surgery (laparotomy) is needed to perform a full exploration and lavage of the peritoneum, as well as to correct any gross anatomical damage which may have caused peritonitis. The exception is spontaneous bacterial peritonitis, which does not benefit from surgery.

References

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