A nurse is caring for a client with peritonitis which nursing intervention is a priority
OverviewPeritonitis is inflammation of the peritoneum — a silk-like membrane that lines your inner abdominal wall and covers the organs within your abdomen — that is usually due to a bacterial or fungal infection. There are two types of peritonitis: Show
Peritonitis requires prompt medical attention to fight the infection and, if necessary, to treat any underlying medical conditions. Peritonitis treatment usually involves antibiotics and, in some cases, surgery. Left untreated, peritonitis can lead to severe, potentially life-threatening infection throughout your body. A common cause of peritonitis is peritoneal dialysis therapy. If you're receiving peritoneal dialysis therapy, you can help prevent peritonitis by following good hygiene before, during and after dialysis. SymptomsSigns and symptoms of peritonitis include:
If you're receiving peritoneal dialysis, peritonitis symptoms may also include:
When to see a doctorPeritonitis can be life-threatening if it's not treated promptly. Contact your doctor immediately if you have severe pain or tenderness of your abdomen, abdominal bloating, or a feeling of fullness associated with:
If you're receiving peritoneal dialysis, contact your health care provider immediately if your dialysis fluid:
Peritonitis may result from a burst appendix or trauma-related abdominal injury.
Sign up for free, and stay up to date on research advancements, health tips and current health topics, like COVID-19, plus expertise on managing health. To provide you with the most relevant and helpful information, and understand which information is beneficial, we may combine your email and website usage information with other information we have about you. If you are a Mayo Clinic
patient, this could include protected health information. If we combine this information with your protected health information, we will treat all of that information as protected health information and will only use or disclose that information as set forth in our notice of privacy practices. You may opt-out of email communications at any time by clicking on the unsubscribe link in the e-mail. CausesInfection of the peritoneum can happen for a variety of reasons. In most cases, the cause is a rupture (perforation) within the abdominal wall. Though it's rare, the condition can develop without an abdominal rupture. Common causes of ruptures that lead to peritonitis include:
Peritonitis that develops without an abdominal rupture (spontaneous bacterial peritonitis) is usually a complication of liver disease, such as cirrhosis. Advanced cirrhosis causes a large amount of fluid buildup in your abdominal cavity. That fluid buildup is susceptible to bacterial infection. Risk factorsFactors that increase your risk of peritonitis include:
ComplicationsLeft untreated, peritonitis can extend beyond your peritoneum, where it may cause:
PreventionOften, peritonitis associated with peritoneal dialysis is caused by germs around the tube (catheter). If you're receiving peritoneal dialysis, take the following steps to prevent peritonitis:
If you've had peritonitis before or if you have peritoneal fluid buildup due to a medical condition such as liver cirrhosis, your doctor may prescribe antibiotics to prevent peritonitis. If you're taking a proton pump inhibitor, your doctor may ask you to stop taking it. What treatment should the nurse expect to include for the client with peritonitis?Treatment for peritonitis
Treatment usually involves being given antibiotics into a vein (intravenously). If you have peritonitis caused by kidney dialysis treatment, antibiotics may be injected directly into your stomach lining.
Which of the following is the most common cause of peritonitis?In most cases, the cause is a rupture (perforation) within the abdominal wall. Though it's rare, the condition can develop without an abdominal rupture. Common causes of ruptures that lead to peritonitis include: Medical procedures, such as peritoneal dialysis.
Which of the following nursing interventions should be prioritized to manage a client with appendicitis?Nursing interventions related to the appendicitis patient include: Assessing and relieving pain through medication administration as well as nonpharmacologic interventions. IMPORTANT: DO NOT APPLY HEAT TO THE APPENDICITIS PATIENT'S ABDOMEN AS THIS COULD LEAD TO RUPTURE. Prevent fluid volume deficit.
How do you assess for peritonitis?Peritonitis is often diagnosed by analyzing a sample of the infected fluid taken from the belly (abdomen). Other tests for peritonitis may include: X-rays. Imaging tests that make pictures of your body's tissues, bones, and organs.
|
