In this article, Niketrainers.com.co will tell you:
What is peritonitis?
Peritonitis isan inflammation of the lining of the entire abdomen. Most often, peritonitis iscaused by bacteria entering the peritoneal cavity and when it covers the entire peritoneal cavity, it is very violent and dangerous for the patient’s life.Peritonitis, regardless of the causative agent of the disease,causes paralytic obstruction of the gastrointestinal tract, that is, the stoppage of the intestines.
What are the causes of peritonitis?
There are several types of peritonitis, but the most common and most important type of peritonitis issecondary bacterial peritonitis.. The condition is caused by bacteria entering the peritoneal cavity – which is normally sterile, that is, bacteria-free – due to a perforation in the digestive tract or inflammation of the reproductive organ. When peritonitis affects only a small area of the peritoneum (limited peritonitis), it is a disease in which the body’s natural defenses are able to control the infection and prevent generalization of the process. Then arise the so-called inflammatory infiltrates around the affected organs, such as: periappendicular infiltration, perivesicular infiltration, abdominal abscess. Unfortunately, more often than not, the inflammatory process spreads throughout the peritoneal cavity and causes diffuse peritonitis, resulting in the symptoms typical of the disease. The most common diseases leading to peritonitis are acute appendicitis, perforation of peptic ulcer (duodenum or stomach), acute cholecystitis, acute pancreatitis, intestinal necrosis and perforation, and acute intestinal ischemia.
How common is peritonitis?
Acute peritonitis belongs to the so-called acute and frequent surgical diseases. It is estimated thatabout 180 out of 100,000 people are affected each year.
How is peritonitis manifested?
The main symptom of peritonitis issevere abdominal pain as well as nausea, vomiting, wind andstool retention, but while abdominal pain is a permanent symptom, the remaining symptoms appear a little later and may be of varying intensity. Over time, symptoms such as tightness of the abdominal wall such as ahard, tight abdomen(“like a board”),urinary retention, and pale and sweaty skin develop.
What to do in the event of peritonitis?
Acute, severe and persistent abdominal pain should always be a reasonto see a doctor. In peritonitis, the pain is constant and so severe that it is usually impossible to perform any activities.
How does the doctor make a diagnosis of peritonitis?
The most important for a diagnosis of peritonitis is to havea careful history and conduct an examination, with particular emphasis on the examination of the abdomen.Subsequently, the doctor may order additional tests, but they will rather provide information about the source of the inflammation and the general condition of the patient, but they do not constitute a basis for establishing a diagnosis and making a decision about surgery. Among the laboratory tests, the test that may delay the surgical intervention is primarily the result of the blood clotting test. If clotting is severely impaired (e.g. due to taking anticoagulants), it may be necessary to correct the disorder with appropriate medications before starting surgery. When peritonitis is suspected in women of childbearing age, a gynecological examination is often performed additionally. In addition, the doctor may order other laboratory tests of blood, ultrasound of the abdominal cavity,computed tomographyand others, depending on the individual case.
What are the treatments for peritonitis?
Treatment of diffuse peritonitisinvolves surgeryto remove the source of infection.The operation can be performed laparoscopically or openly.After removing the source of infection (e.g. inflamed appendix),the peritoneal lavage is usually performed.and possibly leaves a drain therein. The time that elapses from the patient’s visit to the surgeon until the operation is performed, which also includes pre-operative medical activities to optimize the patient’s condition, plays an important role in the treatment. The latter element is very important because often patients suffering from peritonitis at the moment of admitting to the hospital are in a state of significant dehydration. In such a situation, immediate operation is associated with an increased risk of complications. Therefore, such an important element of preparation for surgery is the patient’s hydration with drip infusions.
What should I do after my peritonitis treatment is finished?
Eliminating the source of infection allows the wound to heal, symptoms disappear and in most patients recover.However, if the source of the infection was not completely removed during the first operation, you may need to reoperate at a later date. This is the case, for example, in patients with diverticulitis of the large intestine, in whom irrigation and drainage are performed in the first stage, and bowel resection is performed at a later date, after the patient’s condition has stabilized and the inflammatory symptoms have completely subsided.
What to do to avoid getting peritonitis?
Peritonitis can be caused by a variety of diseases, so it is difficult to know how you can avoid getting peritonitis.