DIFFUSE PERITONITIS IN STEROID-TREATED PATIENTS

Patients on systemic steroid therapy are at increased risk of diffuse peritonitis, specially from gastrointestinal perforation. We performed a retrospective study of 37 patients on systemic steroid therapy who underwent surgery for diffuse peritonitis, Clinical presentation of pe ritonitis was usually aspecific, making the diagnosis difficult. The m edian interval between onset of symptoms and surgery was 3.3 days, red uced to 2.0 days between hospitalization and surgery, The mortality ra te was 46% (17 of 37 patients). We emphasize aggressive diagnostic eff orts and early abdominal exploration in front of any persisting abdomi nal pain in patients on systemic steroid therapy.