Data was collected and entered into a Microsoft Excel spreadsheet (Office 2007) and analyzed using Stata (version 11). Analysis of Data Descriptive statistics were calculated for the following: operative diagnosis; overall and diagnosis-specific mortality rates; age and gender distributions; time (in days) from symptom onset, presentation, and outcome (death versus discharge); presence of rigidity; localized versus generalized peritonitis; presenting vital signs including systolic blood pressure (<

90, ≥ 90), respiratory rate (< 30, ≥ 30), heart rate (< 100, ≥ 100), and temperature (< 35.5, 35.5-38.4, > 38.4); Complete blood count results including total leukocyte count (< 4, 4-11, selleck chemicals > 11) hematocrit (< 31.6, 31.6-47.9, > 47.9), and platelet count (< 100, 100-399, ≥400); and ultrasound findings if performed (presence or absence of free fluid, abscess, and/or appendicitis). Correlations between outcome (death during hospitalization versus discharge) and clinical data (age, gender, Selleckchem IACS-010759 type of symptoms and symptom duration, examination findings, vital signs, and laboratory values) were calculated

using chi-squared analyses. In comparison to operative diagnosis the sensitivity and specificity of ultrasound in diagnosing appendicitis and free fluid/abscess was reported. Results We identified 190 subjects meeting the definition of peritonitis who underwent celiotomy. Sixty-nine percent were male. The average age was 35 (median 32, range 10-84). The youngest subject was 10, and 10 subjects were under the age of 18. The most common etiologies were appendicitis (22%), intestinal PS-341 volvulus (17%), perforated peptic ulcer (11%) and small bowel perforation (11%) (table 1). The overall mortality rate associated with peritonitis was 15%, with the highest mortality rates observed in TCL solid organ rupture (35%), perforated peptic ulcer (33%), primary/idiopathic peritonitis (27%),

tubo-ovarian abscess (20%) and small bowel perforation (15%) (table 1). Factors associated with increased mortality include abdominal rigidity, generalized peritonitis (versus localized peritonitis), hypotension, tachycardia and anemia (p < 0.05); age, gender, symptoms (obstipation, vomiting) and symptom duration, tachypnea, abnormal temperature, hemoconcentration, thrombocytopenia and thrombocytosis were not associated with increased mortality (p = NS) (table 2). Table 1 Etiology of peritonitis in relation to gender, age, and in-hospital mortality. Diagnosis Number Male Female Mortality Appendicitis 42 (22%) 30 (71%) 12 (29%) 2.4% (1/42) Intestinal Volvulus* 32 (17%) 30 (94%) 2 (6.3%) 9.4% (3/32) Perforated Peptic Ulcer† 21 (11%) 19 (90%) 2 (9.