3. DEFINITION
It is inflammation of the peritoneum (the
serous membrane which lines part of the
abdominal cavity and some of the viscera
it contains).
It is one of the most common causes of
surgical emergencies
5. Bacterial [septic] peritonitis
Is caused by introduction of bacterial infection
into the peritoneal cavity
Perforation of a hollow viscus is the most
common cause of peritonitis.
Examples include perforation of the stomach
(peptic ulcer, gastric carcinoma, of the
duodenum (peptic ulcer), intestine (e.g.
appendicitis, diverticulitis and anastomotic
leakage).
In most cases of perforation of a hollow viscus,
mixed bacteria are isolated; the most common
6. Bacterial [septic] peritonitis
Disruption of the peritoneum, even in the
absence of perforation of a hollow viscus, may
also cause infection simply by letting micro-
organisms into the peritoneal cavity.
Examples include trauma, and surgical wounds,
drains
Spontaneous bacterial peritonitis (SBP) is a
peculiar form of peritonitis occurring in the
absence of an obvious source of contamination.
It occurs either in children, or in patients with
ascites.
7. Bacterial [septic] peritonitis
Systemic infections (such as
tuberculosis) may have a peritoneal
localisation.
Tansmural bacterial translocation e.g. IBD,
appendicitis, ischemic bowel
Female genital tract infection e.g. PID
8. Chemical [aseptic] peritonitis
Chemical (sterile) peritonitis is caused by
introduction of chemically irritant substances
such as:-
gastric acid e.g. perforated ulcer
bile e.g. perforated gall bladder or a
lacerated liver
Blood e.g. ruptured spleen or ectopic
pregnancy
Urine e.g. ruptured urinary bladder
Meconium peritonititis
9. Chemical [aseptic] peritonitis
It is important to note that, while
these body fluids are sterile at first,
they frequently become infected
once they leak out of their organ,
leading to infectious peritonitis
within 24-48 hours.
10. Non-bacterial peritonitis
This is caused by non-bacterial
infections of the peritoneal cavity such
as:-
Fungal peritonitis
Viral peritonitis
Chlamydial peritonitis
12. Etiological classification
Bacterial [septic] peritonitis
It is caused by introduction of bacterial infection
into the peritoneal cavity
Chemical [aseptic] peritonitis
It is caused by introduction of a chemically
irritating materials into the peritoneal cavity
Non-bacterial peritonitis
Caused by non-bacterial infection of the
peritoneal cavity
14. Primary peritonitis
Spontaneous bacterial invasion of the peritoneal cavity
occurring in the absence of an apparent intra-abdominal
source of infection or pathology
Commonly occurs in :-
Infancy
early childhood
cirrhotic patients
immunocompromised patients
Usually caused by monomicrobial infection
predominantly Streptococcus pneumoniae
15. Secondary peritonitis
Describes peritoneal infections resulting from
loss of integrity of GI tract:-
GI perforation
Anastomotic dehiscence
TYPHOID FEVER
Infected pancreatic necrosis
It is the most common form of peritonitis
encountered in clinical practice today
Usually caused by polymicrobial infections
mainly aerobes and anaerobes e.g. E.coli and
16. Tertiary peritonitis
Represents the persistence or recurrence of
peritoneal infection following apparently
adequate therapy of SBPor Sp
Tertiary peritonitis develops more frequently in:-
patients with significant preexisting co-morbid
conditions
immunocompromised patients
Caused by GN and GP bacteria & Fungal
infection
18. Localized peritonitis
Localized peritonitis refers to loculi of infection,
usually walled-off or contained by adjacent
organs
Factors favoring localized peritonitis include:-
Anatomical factor compartmentalization of peritoneal cavity
Pathological factor omentum wall the inflamed structures
Surgical factor use of drain help to localize infection
19. Diffuse or generalized peritonitis
Refers to spread of infection to the entire
peritoneal cavity
Factors favoring generalization
Sudden visceral perforation
Violent peristalsis
Injudicious handling of localized
collections
Immunocompromised patient
Children have small omentum
20. Clinical classification
Acute peritonitis
Clinical presentation is of sudden onset with
abdominal pain associated with anorexia,
vomiting, fever and abdominal rebound
tenderness and rigidity
E.g. bacterial peritonitis
Chronic peritonitis
Presents with gradual onset of abdominal
pain, low grade fever, abdominal findings and
weight loss
E.g. TB peritonitis
21. PATHOPHYSIOLOGY
Peritonitis is thought to pass through three
phases:-
Phase I: Absorption of contaminated
peritoneal fluid
Phase II: Activation of immune system
Phase III: Localization of infection by host
defenses
22. Phase I: Absorption of contaminated
peritoneal fluid
Involves absorption of contaminated
peritoneal fluid into systemic circulation
septicemia
The resultant septicemia predominantly
involves gram negative facultative anaerobes
and is associated with high mortality
23. Phase II: Activation of immune system
This involves activation of immune system as
they encounter contaminated peritoneal fluid
Activation of complement system is a first line
event in peritonitis and involve innate and
acquired immunity
Peritoneal mesothelial cells secrete pro-
inflammatory mediators which act synergistically
with complement to increase opsonization and
phagocytosis
24. Phase III: Localization of infection by host
defenses
Is an attempt by host defenses to localize infection via
production of fibrinous exudates that traps microbes
within its matrix and promotes local phagocytic effector
mechanisms
It also serves to promote the development of
abscesses
TNF- produced by peritoneal mesothelial cells
stimulates the production of plasminogen activator –
inhibitor- 1 which inhibits degradation of fibrin [inhibits
fibrinolytic activity] ADHESIONS FORMATION
25. Clinical staging of peritonitis
The clinical features of peritonitis can
be conveniently described
pathohysiologically under 3 stages:-
Stage of peritonism /irritation
Stage of reaction
Stage of diffuse peritonitis
26. Stage I: Stage of peritonism /irritation
This is due to irritation of peritoneum caused by
perforation or inflamed viscous near about
The pain is more severe and is made worse by
breathing and movement
First experienced at the site of the lesion and gradually
spread allover the abdomen
Two important features for diagnosis at this stage:-
Sudden onset of abdominal pain
Presence of muscle guarding and rebound
tenderness
27. Stage II: Stage of reaction
At this stage irritant fluid becomes diluted with
the peritoneal exudates
The intensity of symptoms although the fire is
still burning under the ashes
The patient feel comfortable
Muscle rigidity and rebound tenderness
There is obliteration of liver dullness and
appearance of shifting dullness at this stage
Erect abdominal x-ray will reveal gas under the
diaphragm in 70% of cases
28. Stage III: Stage of diffuse peritonitis
At this stage the patient has gone a step further
towards the grave
The pinched and anxious face, sunken eyes and
hollow cheeks [the so called faces hippocritica ] is
quite characteristic of this condition
There is persistent vomiting, abdominal distention and
board-like rigidity of the abdomen
The abdomen becomes silent and increasingly
distended
The pulse rate rises and become low in volume
The patient finally collapses into unconsciousness
31. Abdominal pain
Most common symptom
May be localized or diffuse
Sudden or gradual onset
Initially, the pain is often dull and poorly
localized (visceral peritoneum) and then
progresses to steady, severe, and more
localized pain (parietal peritoneum)
May be referred to the ipsilateral shoulder tip if
the diaphragmatic peritoneum is involved
33. Nausea & Vomiting
Vomiting may occur because of the
underlying visceral organ pathology (ie,
obstruction) or secondary to the
peritoneal irritation
34. Fever
Fever with temperatures that can exceed
38°C is usually present, but patients with
severe sepsis may present with hypothermia
37. General examination
Toxic with “facies hippocratica”
Febrile T>38'C
Tachycardia
Shallow breathing
Hypotension
Dehydration
Septic shock
38. Abdominal examination
Distended abdomen
Failure of the abdomen to move with respiration
Tenderness; initially localized generalized
Muscle guarding / rigidity
Rebound tenderness
Decreased or no bowel sound
PR and PV also important to rule out Pelvic
abscess /peritonitis
43. Plain chest & abdominal radiographs
They are often the first imaging studies
obtained in patients presenting with peritonitis
Erect films are useful for identifying free air
under the diaphragm (most often on the right)
as an indication of a perforated viscus
Distended bowel loops may indicate associated
intestinal obstruction
44. Abdominal Ultrasound
Abdominal Ultrasonography may
detect peritoneal abscesses and
increased amounts of peritoneal
fluid (ascites)
It is operator dependent and does
not detect peritoneal fluid < 100mls
47. Principles of treatment
The general principles guiding the
treatment of intra-abdominal infections
are 4-fold:-
To control the infectious source
To eliminate bacteria and toxins
To maintain organ system function
To control the inflammatory process
49. Pre-operative care/pre-referral
management
• Hb,grouping and cross matching
Oxygen therapy if available
Fluid resuscitation
Nasogastric decompression
NPO(Nothing per oral)
Antibiotics
Analgesics
Catheterization
Referral the patient for lapararomy
50. NB
Amount of intravenous fluid administration
should be given with caution to patients with
cardiac insufficiency.
Blood Transfusion may be indicated to some
patients depending on the status of anaemia.
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.
This procedure is done at a referral hospital.
The exception is spontaneous bacterial
51. Oxygen therapy
Is vital for all septic shocked patients
It is administered at the rate of 5l/min to
help the response to the increased
metabolic demand of peritonitis
Hypoxia can be monitored by:-
Pulse oximetry
Measurement of arterial blood gases
52. Fluid resuscitation
Is initially with crystalloid i.v., the volume
being dependent on the degree of shock
and dehydration
Electrolytes replacement may be required
The patient should be catheterized in order
to monitor the hourly output of urine
53. Nasogastric decompression
Decompression is performed by NGT to
evacuate the stomach and reduce
accumulation of additional air in the paralyzed
bowel
NGT alleviates vomiting and abdominal
distension and reduces the risk of aspiration
pneumonia
Oral feeding is absolutely prohibited till the
bowel sounds, rebound tenderness and rigidity
disappear
54. Antibiotics
Early and appropriate use of antibiotics is
crucial in reducing mortality in patients with
peritonitis
Antibiotics prevents multiplication of bacteria
and release of endotoxins
Should be broad-spectrum to cover aerobes
and anaerobes both GN & GP bacteria
Should be given intravenously
A 3rd generation cephalosporin,
aminoglycosides and metranidazole is a
common primary strategy
55. Analgesics
The patient should be relieved of pain before
and after operation
Once the diagnosis has been made, analgesics
must be given and continued postoperatively
Freedom from pain allows early mobilization
and adequate physiotherapy in the
postoperative period
Early postoperative mobilization and
physiotherapy prevents basal pulmonary
collapse, DVT and pulmonary embolism
56. Operative treatment
Aimed at to correct the underlying cause
Every attempt should be made to perform
operation as soon as possible
59. Correction of the underlying pathology
This depends on the underlying
pathology
60. Peritoneal lavage
All peritoneal pus, pseudo -membranes, loosely
adherent fibrins and other exudates should be
completely removed
Contents of any localized collections or
abscesses should be completely evacuated
This is called debridement of exudates or
peritoneal debridement
This is followed by irrigation with warm normal
saline of all parts of the peritoneal cavity
61. Drainage
The use of drain in generalized peritonitis
is of no benefit because:-
It interferes with peritoneal defense
mechanism
It provides access for exogenous
bacterial contamination
Drain use is of great help in cases of
localized peritoneal fluid collections
62. Closure
Midline incision is closed as a single layer with
polypropylene or nylon taking generous bites
of tissues on either sides
Transverse and para-median incisions are
closed in the usual fashion
The skin and subcutaneous layers of the
wound should be left open
Delayed primary closure of the skin can be
performed after 4-5 days if the wound remains
healthy