Open Access Textbook of General Surgery Peritonitis and Intra-abdominal Abscess

Intra-abdominal sepsis, including peritonitis and abscess formation, present serious and potentially lifethreatening events in the management of surgical patients with significant resultant morbidity and mortality. Twenty percent of patients presenting with generalised suppurative peritonitis and over 50% of high risk patients with post-operative intra-abdominal sepsis die despite intensive treatment. Major recent advances have occurred in the conceptual understanding of the pathogenesis, diagnostic methodology, antibiotic therapy and application of non-invasive technology in intra-abdominal sepsis. As a consequence, the management of intra-abdominal infection requires a careful interdisciplinary approach, with close collaboration between surgeon, physician, radiologist, bacteriologist and anaesthetist.