Predictors of mortality and morbidity in peritonitis in a developing country.

Objective: Generalized peritonitis is still a common emergency managed by most general surgeons throughout the world. If the outcome in these patients can be correctly predicted, then better management can be instituted to those patients in need. This study aims to identify factors in patients with peritonitis which have a significant bearing on morbidity and mortality.

Mannheim Peritonitis Index and APACHE II--prediction of outcome in patients with peritonitis.

Background: Early prognostic evaluation of patients with peritonitis is desirable to select high-risk patients for intensive management and also to provide a reliable objective classification of severity and operative risk. This study attempts to evaluate the use of scoring systems such as Acute Physiological and Chronic Health Evaluation score (APACHE II) and Mannheim Peritonitis Index (MPI) in patients with peritonitis.

Methods: A prospective study was conducted using 101 consecutive patients (69 male, 32 female) having generalized peritonitis over a two-year period.