Prognostic factors in generalized peritonitis in Lagos University Teaching Hospital (LUTH).

Abstract

Generalised peritonitis is a more severe form of intra-abdominal infection with mortality rates of 30 – 50%. We studied the prognostic factors in generalized peritonitis with a view to documenting the current pattern of peritonitis and to determine the parameters affecting morbidity and mortality in all cases of peritonitis in LUTH. Sixty-seven consecutive patients with generalized peritonitis were recruited into the study. The biodata, clinical data, and intra-operative findings were manually collated in a proforma and subsequently analysed using EPI-INFO 2002. Forty-five patients were below the age of 30 years. Typhoid ileal perforation and ruptured appendicitis were the commonest causes accounting for 17.9% each. The most important independent prognostic factors were age, malignancy, colonic involvement, pre-operative duration of illness, characteristics of exudates and organ failures. Infective causes like typhoid ileal perforation and ruptured appendicitis are still the highest causes of generalized peritonitis in our environment. Age, malignancy, colonic involvement, pre-operative duration of illness, character of exudates and organ failure are the main prognostic factors in our study. Keywords : Generalised,Peritonitis, Secondary, Prognosis, Lagos Ebonyi Medical Journal Vol. 6 (1) 2007 pp. 37-43