Acute Peritonitis
Description
Acute peritonitis is an inflammatory process within the peritoneal cavity most commonly
caused by a bacterial infection. Types of acute peritonitis include primary and secondary.
Primary peritonitis, otherwise known as spontaneous bacterial peritonitis, most commonly
occur inpatients with cirrhosis and clinically significant ascites. Secondary peritonitis most
commonly occurs as a result of spillage of intestinal, biliary, or urinary tract contents into the
peritoneal space as a result of perforation, suppuration, or ischemic injury. Patients at risk for
developing secondary peritonitis include those with recent abdominal surgery, a perforated
ulcer or colon, a ruptured appendix or viscus, a bowel obstruction, a gangrenous bowel, or
ischemic bowel disease.
Signs and Symptoms
● Patient assuming a knee-flexed position and complaining of severe localized or
generalized abdominal pain.
● Nausea and vomiting
, Physical Examination
Vital signs
● HR: tachycardia
● BP: hypotension
● RR: increased and shallow
● Temp : elevated
Neurologic
● Normal to decreased mentation
Skin
● Pale
● Flushed
● Diaphoretic
Cardiovascular
● Pulse thread or wear or may be binding in presence of fever.
Pulmonary
● Breath sounds may be diminished secondary to shallow breathing.
Abdominal
Description
Acute peritonitis is an inflammatory process within the peritoneal cavity most commonly
caused by a bacterial infection. Types of acute peritonitis include primary and secondary.
Primary peritonitis, otherwise known as spontaneous bacterial peritonitis, most commonly
occur inpatients with cirrhosis and clinically significant ascites. Secondary peritonitis most
commonly occurs as a result of spillage of intestinal, biliary, or urinary tract contents into the
peritoneal space as a result of perforation, suppuration, or ischemic injury. Patients at risk for
developing secondary peritonitis include those with recent abdominal surgery, a perforated
ulcer or colon, a ruptured appendix or viscus, a bowel obstruction, a gangrenous bowel, or
ischemic bowel disease.
Signs and Symptoms
● Patient assuming a knee-flexed position and complaining of severe localized or
generalized abdominal pain.
● Nausea and vomiting
, Physical Examination
Vital signs
● HR: tachycardia
● BP: hypotension
● RR: increased and shallow
● Temp : elevated
Neurologic
● Normal to decreased mentation
Skin
● Pale
● Flushed
● Diaphoretic
Cardiovascular
● Pulse thread or wear or may be binding in presence of fever.
Pulmonary
● Breath sounds may be diminished secondary to shallow breathing.
Abdominal
