The abdominal cavity is the largest hollow space in the human body and contains the liver, pancreas, spleen, kidneys and adrenal glands, and the digestive tract. The cavity is lined by a thin, silk-like membrane called the peritoneum which covers the inside wall of the abdominal cavity and every organ or structure contained in it. A common affliction of the abdominal cavity is peritonitis, which is an inflammation of the peritoneum membrane caused by the introduction of a fungal or bacterial infection in an otherwise sterile environment. The infection is often caused by an abdominal injury that creates a rupture (perforation) within the abdominal cavity, or may arise from a complication of an underlying medical condition. The infection can …show more content…
Primary peritonitis is an infection that develops in the abdominal (ascitic) fluid of the peritoneal cavity. It is mostly seen in patients suffering from advanced liver disease with cirrhosis, where abdominal fluid builds up (ascites) in the peritoneal cavity and may become infected. Although rare in the absence of a perforation, there are many underlying conditions that can contribute to the growth of bacteria in the ascitic fluid. This type is called spontaneous bacterial peritonitis and is the most common reason of primary peritonitis. Factors that increase risk of primary peritonitis include medical procedures like peritoneal dialysis, medical conditions such as cirrhosis, kidney failure, and heart disease, and patient history of peritonitis. However, in most cases the type of infection that develops is secondary peritonitis, which is usually caused by an infection that has spread from the digestive tract after trauma or perforation of the abdominal viscera that allows infectious organisms to contaminate the sterile environment of the peritoneal cavity. Most common causes of secondary peritonitis include injury or trauma to the peritoneum, a ruptured appendix, or stomach ulcer, digestive diseases such as Crohn’s Disease, and diverticulitis, perforations of the stomach, or intestines, and abdominal trauma such as injury from a knife or gunshot wound. Both types of peritonitis are life threatening, and when left untreated can enter into the bloodstream spreading the infection throughout the entire body leading to shock and organ
ABDOMEN: The lung basis appeared unremarkable. The liver, spleen, gallbladder, adrenals, kidneys and pancreas and abdominal aorta appeared unremarkable. The bowels seen on the study appeared thickened. Dilated appendix seen constant with acute appendicitis. Osseous structures of the abdomen appeared unremarkable. No free air was seen.
HISTORY OF PRESENT ILLNESS: This 46-year old gentleman with past medical history significant only for degenerative disease of the bilateral hips, secondary to arthritis presents to the emergency room after having had 3 days of abdominal pain. It initially started 3 days ago and was a generalized vague abdominal complaint. Earlier this morning the pain localized and radiated to the right lower quadrant. He had some nausea without emesis. He was able to tolerate p.o earlier around 6am, but he now
DIAGNOSTIC DATA: White count was 13.4, hemoglobin and hematocrit 15.4 and 45.8, platelets 206, with an 89% shift. Sodium 133, potassium 3.7, chloride 99, bicarb 24, BUN and creatinine are 18 and 1.1, respectively. Glucose 146, albumin 4.3, total bilirubin 1.7. The remainder of the LFTs is within normal limits. Urinalysis reveals trace ketones with 100mg per decilitre protein and a small amount of blood. CT scan was performed revealing evidence of acute appendicitis with pericecal inflammation, as well as, dilatation of the appendix and
History of Present Illness: The patient is a 27-year-old male complaining of right lower-quadrant abdominal pain, nausea, and
2. Name the structure that is a double fold of peritoneum and holds the colon to the abdominal wall.
History of Present Illness: The patient is a 27-year-old male complaining of right lower-quadrant abdominal pain, nausea, and
Pathophysiology: Diverticulitis, is characterized by inflamed diverticuli and increased luminal pressures that cause erosion of the bowel wall and thus microscopic or macroscopic perforation into the peritoneum. A localized abscess develops when the
The name for these erosions is aphthous ulcers. These erosions, after a while, start to deepen and grow in diameter. Once they reach a certain size, they can be referred to as ulcers. These ulcers can cause scarring and they can also cause the bowel to become stiff and lose its elasticity. As Crohn’s worsens, the bowel becomes obstructed once the passageways narrow enough. This obstruction can cause a buildup of food that is still being digested, fluid and gas that comes from the stomach. This obstruction will then prevent all of those products from entering into the colon. This will cause severe abdominal cramps, nausea, vomiting, and even abdominal distention. If the ulcers located in the walls of the bowel become large or extreme enough, holes can form in the walls of the bowel. Once those holes are formed in the bowel, the bacteria normal to the bowel can then pass through those holes and spread to nearby organs and into the abdominal cavity causing what are called fistulas. These fistulas are like a channel/tunnel that is formed between the ulcer and the adjacent organ. Then when a fistula is created between the affected intestine and the bladder, it is called an enteric-vesicular fistula which can lead to UTI’s and feces being presented during urination. Next, when the fistula is formed between the intestine and skin, it is called an enteric-cutaneous fistula. What this fistula, pus and mucous exit the body through a painful opening found in the skin of the
Hello Thelma, you brought up great information on how to assess the abdomen thoroughly. I absolutely agree with you, the abdomen should be assessed in a systematic approach. I would inspect, auscultate, percuss, and palpate the abdomen. I would definitely listen to dull sound when percussing the abdomen which is common sound with someone who has ascites. As mentioned by Jarvis (2012), dullness occurs over fluid or mass area. I would approach palpation in a careful manner to especially to the enlarged and tender area of the abdomen. M.M is exhibiting fatigue, weight loss, and anorexia which are due to his long term use of alcohol from the past. I would also try to get labs and diagnostic testing to rule out cirrhosis and plan for accurate treatment.
Peritonitis describes an inflamed peritoneum in the abdomen. Peritonitis can be the result of an infected peritoneum by bacteria, fungi or a chemical irritant. At first, a diagnosis of peritonitis may not be evident as the early symptoms- nausea, fever and abdominal distention- are similar symptoms of pancreatitis or pregnancy. In order to accurately be diagnosed with peritonitis, blood tests, urine tests, x-rays, CTs and/or an exploratory surgery can be done. Once diagnosed, the patient can be given antibiotics or medication to fight the infection, or undergo surgery to surgically remove the infection. However, although a surgery can help remove the peritonitis, interestingly, an abdominal surgery can cause a peritonitis; this is called a
Annabelle most likely has developed a urinary tract infection. Also known as a UTI. The UTI should cover any infection of the urinary tract. That includes the urethra, bladder, and kidneys.
Other reasons for infection could be having other medical issues such as prostate inflammation in men, or having a disease like AIDS, which depresses the immune system to fight off bacteria in the body. When people have a catheter put in, there could also be a high risk of infection to occur. Additional cause of UTI could be internal as well. If E. coli in the colon seeps its way into the urinary tract, an infection is sure to follow (Urinary Tract Infection-Cancer Symptoms, chemotherapy & Chemo Side Effects, 2005).
coli LPS alone into the bladders, leading to the occurrence of symptoms such as edema, hemorrhage, and infiltration of neutrophils into the bladder wall.
The topic I will be discussing about is the body cavities, it is a space which is considered our insides that contains our organs and fluids. We as humans have four body cavities (1) the cranial, (2) the thoracic, (3) the abdominal and (4) the pelvic cavity, they all contain one or more of our organs. Now let's get more depth with the cavities individually, let's start with the cranial cavity, it is inside the cranium its what protects the brain and its soft tissue, the cranial cavity is surrounded in a thin layer of cells. The thoracic or chest cavity houses the oesophagus, aorta, lungs, heart, and trachea, it is also subdivided into small sections the pleural is where each lung is and the mediastinum it surrounds the heart, veins, and arteries.
As the lining becomes more permeable than normal ,it allows microbes, undigested food, waste, toxins, or large macromolecules to enter. Some researchers believe that these substances have a direct affect on the body; others think the problem is an immune reaction to those substances.