Peritonitis

(per-it-on-i' -tis). Inflammation of the peritoneum. It may be acute or chronic, general or local. P., Acute, is sudden in its onset, with agonizing pain that compels the patient to remain in bed on his back with the shoulders raised and the knees and hips flexed the characteristic position. The pulse is small, hard, and wiry; there is some fever; and the abdomen becomes tense and tympanitic. Acute peritonitis may terminate in death, recovery, or chronic peritonitis. P., Adhesive, peritonitis with adhesion between the parietal and visceral layers. P., Carcinomatous, that due to carcinoma of the membrane. P., Chronic, a form that has no well-defined symptoms; there is tenderne , pain not so acute, impairment of appetite, and constipation. Fluid may be present in the abdominal cavity and adhesions may form. This chronic form usually follows an acute attack, but nay develop insidiously. It is often tuberculous. P., Circumscribed, that limited to a part of the membrane. P. deformans, chronic peritonitis accompanied by thickening and contraction of the mesentery and omentum. P., Diaphragmatic, inflammation of the peritoneum covering the under surface of the diaphragm. P., Diffuse, a form affecting the enare peritoneum. P., Encysted, a collection of serum or pus surrounded by peritoneal adhesions. P., Hemorrhagic, peritonitis with hemorrhages into the membrane; it may lead to the formation of a so called hematoma. P., Pelvic. See Per i metritis . P., Perforative, peritonitis due to perforation of a hollow viscus, an absce , or a and the extrusion of the contents into the cavity of the peritoneum. P., Phlegmonous. Synonym of P., Purulent. P., Puerperal, that following septic infection in the woman in childbed. It rapidly ends in death from asthenia. P., Purulent, peritonitis accompanied by the production of pus. P., Pyemic, peritonitis due to the localization of pyogenic microorganisms in the peritoneum. P., Rheumatic, a peritonitis occurring in the course of acute rheumatic fever. P., Septic, peritonitis due to the microorganisms of suppuration. P., Specific, that due to tuberculosis or syphilis, though the term is usually limited to the latter condition. P., Syphilitic, an indurative form due I to syphilis. P., Tuberculous, that form due to the deposit of miliary tubercles upon the peritoneum. According to Fagge, it is more common in children than in adults, and in men than in women.