Peritonitis

Question 1

Does a patient with peritonitis move around or stay very still?

Answer 1

Very still - movement irritates the peritoneum

Question 2

What is the sign used to elicit peritonism?

Answer 2

Rebound tenderness (Bulmberg’s sign)

Question 3

Name 2 infective causes of peritonitis

Answer 3

Bowel perf

Peritoneum perf

Question 4

Name a cause of non-infective peritonitis

Answer 4

1) Surgery

2) Leakage of sterile fluid into the peritoneum
E.g. blood , bile, gastric juice, urine, pancreatic juice, menstruum
n.b. But these fluids become infected very quickly once they leak out of their viscera