Difference between revisions of "Peritonitis - Cats and Dogs"
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| Line 37: | Line 37: | ||
**bile for biliary leak | **bile for biliary leak | ||
**creatinine for urine | **creatinine for urine | ||
| − | **glucose and lactate for sepsis | + | **glucose (2.8 mmol/l) and lactate (>5.5 mmol/l) for sepsis |
===Diagnostic Imaging=== | ===Diagnostic Imaging=== | ||
| + | ====Radiography==== | ||
| + | *Abdominal radiography may reveal free gas in the abdomen. This is highly suggestive of peritonitis | ||
| + | *Thoracic radiograph should be assessed for signs of metastatic disease. | ||
| Line 47: | Line 50: | ||
==Treatment== | ==Treatment== | ||
| + | *It is vital to identify cases which require emergency surgical intervention. Any of the following is a major indication: | ||
| + | **positive for intracellular bacteria. | ||
| + | **free gas visible in the abdominal radiograph. | ||
| + | **presence of penetrating injuries in the abdomen. | ||
Revision as of 15:30, 18 August 2009
 |
This article is still under construction. |
Signalment
Description
Peritonitis is defined as the inflammation of the peritoneum. Peritonitis can be septic or non-septic. Septic peritonitis results from free bacteria in the peritoneal cavity, caused by perforating injuries to the gastrointestnal tract due to foreign bodies, necrosis secondary to obstruction or intussusception. Non-septic, also known as chemical peritonitis, may be the result of leakage of bile, urine or pancreatic enzymes. However, non-septic peritonitis can cause septic peritonitis, for example cases where septic urine is present.
Diagnosis
Clinical Signs
- Depressed
- Tachycardia
- Tachypnoea
- Pale, cyanotic or muddly mucous membranes
- Hypothermia or hyperthermia
- Abdominal pain
Laboratory Tests
Haematology
Biochemistry
- Significan leucocytosis or leucopaenia
- Hypoglycaemia
- Increased lactate concentration
Other Tests
- Abdominal fluid collected for laboartory analysis via abdominocentesis. The fluid should be stained for intracellular bacteria and assessed for:
- amylase and lipase for pancreatitis
- bile for biliary leak
- creatinine for urine
- glucose (2.8 mmol/l) and lactate (>5.5 mmol/l) for sepsis
Diagnostic Imaging
Radiography
- Abdominal radiography may reveal free gas in the abdomen. This is highly suggestive of peritonitis
- Thoracic radiograph should be assessed for signs of metastatic disease.
Histopathology
Treatment
- It is vital to identify cases which require emergency surgical intervention. Any of the following is a major indication:
- positive for intracellular bacteria.
- free gas visible in the abdominal radiograph.
- presence of penetrating injuries in the abdomen.
Prognosis
References
- Ettinger, S.J. and Feldman, E. C. (2000) Textbook of Veterinary Internal Medicine Diseases of the Dog and Cat Volume 2 (Fifth Edition) W.B. Saunders Company.
- Hall, E.J, Simpson, J.W. and Williams, D.A. (2005) BSAVA Manual of Canine and Feline Gastroenterology (2nd Edition) BSAVA
- Nelson, R.W. and Couto, C.G. (2009) Small Animal Internal Medicine (Fourth Edition) Mosby Elsevier.