Etiology Of Peritonitis and Factors Predicting the Mortality in Peritonitis

Abstract

Introduction: Peritonitis is a life threatening surgical emergency that requires prompt and optimum surgical attention. This study aims to describe the different factors affecting the final outcome of the patient. Materials and methods: A retrospective study of hospital records was done on 60 patients who underwent alaparotomy for treatment of peritonitis in the month of January and February 2012at Civil Hospital and B. J. medical college. Results: Out of 60, 16 patients died (26.7%). The most common etiology was peptic perforation (50%); the most mortality was also for peptic perforation (8/16, 50%). Factors causing adverse outcomes were extremes of age (p < 0.05), delay in presentation to hospital, tachycardia, and hypotension extremes in total count (septicemia) and altered renal function (p < 0.01). Conclusion: The mortality rate (26.7%) of peritonitis is quite high. The late presentation to the hospital--a very important cause of adverse outcome in patients, leads to deterioration of patients. Tachycardia, hypotension, renal failure and septicemia are the factors significantly predicting death (each significant at 1%). Thus if patients could be detected early having above mentioned symptoms and prompt treatment could be provided; mortality can be reduced.

Keywords

• Peritonitis
• Peptic perforation
• Tachycardia
• Hypotension