Lectures presented to postgraduate surgery students.
Definition:
Peritonitis is an inflamation of the peritoneum, the serous memberane that lines part of the abdominal cavity. Peritonitis may be localized or generalized, and may result from infection and from a non-infectious process.
Types:
1 -Infected peritonitis (localized or generalized infected peritonitis) or none infected peritonitis .
2 -Primary or secondary peritonitis .
uPrimary peritonitis is caused by the spread of an infection from the blood and lymph nodes to the peritoneum.
uSecondary peritonitis is the more common type of peritonitis, happens when the infection comes into the peritoneum from the gastrointestinal or billiary tract .
Risk factors
Liver disease (cirrhosis)
Fluid in the abdomen
Weakened immune system
Pelvic inflammatory disease
Risk factors for secondary peritonitis include:
Appendicitis (inflammation of the appendix)
Stomach ulcers, Twisted intestine, Pancreatitis
Inflammatory
operation.
bowel
disease,
Injury
caused
by
an
Peritoneal dialysis, Trauma.