Peritonitis is an infection of the peritoneum, a membrane that lines the body cavity and the organs it encloses. This condition is seen as a medical emergency, because untreated peritonitis can kill a patient or cause serious organ damage. Typically, the condition requires surgery, along with a course of medication to treat infection and inflammation. If caught early, peritonitis can be quite survivable, especially in healthy patients, although elderly patients and patients with poor health have a lower survival rate.
The purpose of the peritoneum under normal conditions is to protect the organs from trauma and infection. When the peritoneum becomes inflamed or infected, it exposes the abdominal organs to the possibility of infection and tends to stop processes such as digestion. The patient usually experiences extreme abdominal pain and cramping, along with a high fever, vomiting, and an irregular heartbeat. Some patients experience cramps so severe that their bodies contort, causing additional pain as the peritoneum is twisted.
Sometimes peritonitis arises spontaneously, usually as a result of bacteria carried in the blood and lymph. Most commonly, trauma or disease to the abdomen leads to peritonitis. If an organ is severely infected, the infection can spread to the peritoneum. Organ ruptures and puncture wounds that introduce bacteria into the peritoneum can also cause infection, because the membrane is covered with a serous fluid that is an ideal culture for bacteria.
The symptoms of peritonitis are easy to identify, and the condition is usually quickly diagnosed in patients who are at risk of developing peritonitis. Treatment involves antibiotics to fight the infection and exploratory surgery to determine the cause. Surgery can also address the underlying cause and repair any damage related to peritonitis. For example, if an intestinal perforation leads to infection, the tear in the intestines will be repaired and the body cavity cleaned to keep it clean.
This condition is very serious and requires immediate treatment. Risk factors for developing peritonitis include recent surgery, trauma to the abdomen, and gastrointestinal disease. People with any of these risk factors should be taken to a hospital right away if they develop symptoms of peritonitis so they can be evaluated and treated. It is also important to seek medical treatment for trauma to the abdomen, both to repair the damage caused by the trauma and to reduce the risk of developing peritonitis.