Introduction Peritonitis is a significant cause of morbidity and mortality in surgical settings. Coexisting premorbid illness and postoperative complications were found to be associated with death. This study aimed to analyze various etiologies that cause peritonitis and shed light on the factors responsible for unsatisfactory results. Method This longitudinal study included 309 patients above 12 years of age, of either gender, with confirmed diagnosis of peritonitis. Exploratory laparotomy was done to identify the cause of peritonitis. Patients were monitored postoperatively till their discharge or death for the development of complications. Results Our results showed that the most common cause of acute peritonitis was duodenal perforation (26.2%), followed by typhoid ileal perforation (24.2%) and ruptured appendix (16.8%). At least one complication was observed in 31% of the participants. The most common complication was dehydration (18.8%), followed by septicemia (11.3%) and paralytic ileus (6.4%). Ten (3.2%) patients died in the hospital. Conclusions Acute peritonitis is a serious surgical emergency caused by a number of diseases. Early surgical treatment along with antibiotics, followed by aggressive resuscitation can yield improved outcomes in patients with peritonitis.
Keywords: complications; etiology; peritonitis; ruptured appendix; typhoid ileal perforation.
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