peritonitis

Inflammation, usually from infection, of the lining of the abdominal cavity. It most often follows a perforationperforationper-fuh-RAY-shunA hole that goes all the way through the wall of an organ or tissue.per- throughforat bored (a hole)-ion processFull entry Close of the gut, such as a burst appendix, perforated ulcer or ruptured diverticulitisdiverticulitisdy-ver-tik-yuh-LY-tisInflammation or infection of one or more small pouches that bulge out from the wall of the colon.diverticul/o a small pouch-itis inflammationFull entry Close, which lets bacteria and bowel contents leak into the belly. It can also happen in clients on peritoneal dialysisdialysisdy-AL-ih-sisA treatment that removes wastes and extra fluid from the blood when the kidneys can no longer do it.dia- through, apart-lysis separation, looseningFull entry Close. It is a surgical emergency that can lead to sepsissepsisSEP-sisA severe whole-body response to an infection that damages the body's own organs.Full entry Close.

Report severe belly pain, a rigid or board-like abdomen, pain when pressure is released, fever and a rising pulse at once. Keep the client NPO and expect IV fluids, antibiotics and often surgery. For peritoneal dialysis, report cloudy drained fluid.