Post-traumatic peritonitis

Peritonitis is the acute inflammation or infection of the thin membrane covering the intra-abdominal organs. It is generally secondary to perforation of a hollow digestive organ or to the spread of an intra-abdominal septic focus. It may be generalised or localised. Acute generalised peritonitis accounts for a large proportion of abdominal emergencies. According to Clément et al it is a global health problem with a mortality rate of up to 20%. In 2020 Tochie et al. reported a worldwide prevalence of 0.93% with mortality ranging from 8.4% to 34% depending on the country and the aetiology. According to the Hamburg classification peritonitis can be primary secondary or tertiary. Secondary peritonitis is the most common accounting for 98% of peritonitis and 7% of abdominal pain syndromes. It may occur following abdominal trauma contusion or abdominal wounds perendoscopic perforation or the presence of an intra-abdominal foreign body.