Condition Lookup
Sub-Category:
Peritoneal Disorders
Number of Conditions: 2
Peritonitis (Spontaneous Bacterial or Secondary)
Specialty: Gastrointestinal
Category: General and Miscellaneous GI Conditions
Sub-category: Peritoneal Disorders
Symptoms:
abdominal pain; fever; nausea; vomiting; bloating; loss of appetite; rebound tenderness; altered mental status (in severe cases)
Root Cause:
Inflammation of the peritoneum caused by bacterial infection, either spontaneous (usually due to liver disease and ascites) or secondary to conditions like a perforated appendix or bowel injury.
How it's Diagnosed: videos
Clinical examination, imaging (CT scan or ultrasound), and diagnostic paracentesis (analysis of peritoneal fluid for white blood cell count, Gram stain, and culture).
Treatment:
Immediate treatment includes antibiotics to target causative bacteria, supportive care (IV fluids, pain management), and surgery (in secondary peritonitis) to repair the underlying source of infection.
Medications:
Broad-spectrum antibiotics such as cefotaxime or piperacillin-tazobactam (antibacterial). In cases of fungal involvement, antifungals like fluconazole may be used.
Prevalence:
How common the health condition is within a specific population.
Spontaneous bacterial peritonitis occurs in 10-30% of patients with cirrhosis and ascites. Secondary peritonitis prevalence depends on underlying conditions like appendicitis or bowel perforation.
Risk Factors:
Factors or behaviors that increase the likelihood of developing the condition.
Chronic liver disease with ascites, peritoneal dialysis, abdominal surgery, gastrointestinal perforations, trauma, and immunosuppression.
Prognosis:
The expected outcome or course of the condition over time.
Prognosis varies; spontaneous bacterial peritonitis has a 20-40% mortality rate, which improves with prompt treatment. Secondary peritonitis requires surgical intervention and can lead to serious complications without timely management.
Complications:
Additional problems or conditions that may arise as a result of the original condition.
Sepsis, multi-organ failure, abscess formation, and recurrent infections.
Ascites (Abdominal Fluid Accumulation)
Specialty: Gastrointestinal
Category: General and Miscellaneous GI Conditions
Sub-category: Peritoneal Disorders
Symptoms:
abdominal distension; weight gain; shortness of breath; abdominal discomfort; nausea; early satiety
Root Cause:
Accumulation of fluid in the peritoneal cavity, commonly caused by liver cirrhosis, but also associated with cancers, heart failure, or infections.
How it's Diagnosed: videos
Physical exam (shifting dullness, fluid wave test), ultrasound for fluid detection, and paracentesis to analyze the ascitic fluid (e.g., albumin gradient, cell count, cultures).
Treatment:
Management of the underlying cause (e.g., liver disease), sodium restriction, diuretics (e.g., spironolactone and furosemide), therapeutic paracentesis for symptomatic relief, and in severe cases, transjugular intrahepatic portosystemic shunt (TIPS) or liver transplant.
Medications:
Diuretics such as spironolactone (potassium-sparing) and furosemide (loop diuretic) to reduce fluid accumulation. Albumin infusions post-paracentesis to prevent complications like hypovolemia.
Prevalence:
How common the health condition is within a specific population.
Approximately 50% of patients with cirrhosis develop ascites within 10 years of diagnosis.
Risk Factors:
Factors or behaviors that increase the likelihood of developing the condition.
Chronic liver disease, excessive alcohol use, hepatitis infection, malignancies (e.g., ovarian cancer), and heart or kidney failure.
Prognosis:
The expected outcome or course of the condition over time.
Dependent on the cause; ascites related to cirrhosis indicates advanced liver disease and carries a 50% mortality rate over two years without transplant.
Complications:
Additional problems or conditions that may arise as a result of the original condition.
Spontaneous bacterial peritonitis, hepatorenal syndrome, and impaired quality of life due to recurrent fluid accumulation.