- Section 1 ICU organization and management
- Section 2 Pharmacotherapeutics
- Section 3 Resuscitation
- Section 4 The respiratory system
- Section 5 The cardiovascular system
- Section 6 The gastrointestinal system
- Part 6.1 Physiology
- Part 6.2 Gastrointestinal monitoring
- Part 6.3 Gastrointestinal haemorrhage
- Part 6.4 Disordered gastric motility
- Part 6.5 The acute abdomen in the ICU
- Chapter 184 Pathophysiology and management of raised intra-abdominal pressure in the critically ill
- Chapter 185 Perforated viscus in the critically ill
- Chapter 186 Ischaemic bowel in the critically ill
- Chapter 187 Intra-abdominal sepsis in the critically ill
- Chapter 188 Acute acalculous cholecystitis in the critically ill
- Chapter 189 Management of the open abdomen and abdominal fistulae in the critically ill
- Part 6.6 Pancreatitis
- Part 6.7 Jaundice
- Part 6.8 Acute hepatic failure
- Part 6.9 Acute on chronic hepatic failure
- Section 7 Nutrition
- Section 8 The renal system
- Section 9 The neurological system
- Section 10 The metabolic and endocrine systems
- Section 11 The haematological system
- Section 12 The skin and connective tissue
- Section 13 Infection
- Section 14 Inflammation
- Section 15 Poisoning
- Section 16 Trauma
- Section 17 Physical disorders
- Section 18 Pain and sedation
- Section 19 General surgical and obstetric intensive care
- Section 20 Specialized intensive care
- Section 21 Recovery from critical illness
- Section 22 End-of-life care
(p. 872) Perforated viscus in the critically ill
- Chapter:
- (p. 872) Perforated viscus in the critically ill
- Author(s):
Ori D. Rotstein
- DOI:
- 10.1093/med/9780199600830.003.0185
Visceral perforation presents with either localized or diffuse abdominal pain and tenderness depending on the ability of the peritoneal host defence mechanisms to contain the spread of gastrointestinal content from the site of perforation. The most common causes of perforation are appendicitis, diverticulitis, and peptic ulcer disease. The diagnosis is based on clinical symptoms and signs, supported by appropriate imaging. CT scanning is an accurate method of diagnosing perforation and can provide information about the underlying pathological process. The principles of treatment include adequate physiological support, appropriate antimicrobial therapy and intervention to control the source of infection and prevent its recurrence.
Access to the complete content on Oxford Medicine Online requires a subscription or purchase. Public users are able to search the site and view the abstracts for each book and chapter without a subscription.
Please subscribe or login to access full text content.
If you have purchased a print title that contains an access token, please see the token for information about how to register your code.
For questions on access or troubleshooting, please check our FAQs, and if you can't find the answer there, please contact us.
- Section 1 ICU organization and management
- Section 2 Pharmacotherapeutics
- Section 3 Resuscitation
- Section 4 The respiratory system
- Section 5 The cardiovascular system
- Section 6 The gastrointestinal system
- Part 6.1 Physiology
- Part 6.2 Gastrointestinal monitoring
- Part 6.3 Gastrointestinal haemorrhage
- Part 6.4 Disordered gastric motility
- Part 6.5 The acute abdomen in the ICU
- Chapter 184 Pathophysiology and management of raised intra-abdominal pressure in the critically ill
- Chapter 185 Perforated viscus in the critically ill
- Chapter 186 Ischaemic bowel in the critically ill
- Chapter 187 Intra-abdominal sepsis in the critically ill
- Chapter 188 Acute acalculous cholecystitis in the critically ill
- Chapter 189 Management of the open abdomen and abdominal fistulae in the critically ill
- Part 6.6 Pancreatitis
- Part 6.7 Jaundice
- Part 6.8 Acute hepatic failure
- Part 6.9 Acute on chronic hepatic failure
- Section 7 Nutrition
- Section 8 The renal system
- Section 9 The neurological system
- Section 10 The metabolic and endocrine systems
- Section 11 The haematological system
- Section 12 The skin and connective tissue
- Section 13 Infection
- Section 14 Inflammation
- Section 15 Poisoning
- Section 16 Trauma
- Section 17 Physical disorders
- Section 18 Pain and sedation
- Section 19 General surgical and obstetric intensive care
- Section 20 Specialized intensive care
- Section 21 Recovery from critical illness
- Section 22 End-of-life care