6. What is the pathology of peritonitis?
Correct answer: Peritonitis of bowel origin usually shows a mixed faecal flora (Escherichia coli, Streptococcus faecalis, Pseudomonas, Klebsiella and Proteus, together with anaerobic Clostridium and Bacteroides). Gynaecological infections may be chlamydial, gonococcal or streptococcal. Blood-borne peritonitis may be streptococcal, pneumococcal, staphylococcal or tuberculous. In young…
5. How can bacteria enter the peritoneal cavity via the female genital tract?
Correct answer: Acute salpingitis or puerperal infection.
4. How can bacteria enter the peritoneal cavity via the bloodstream? Which organisms are usually involved?
Correct answer: As part of septicaemia (pneumococcal, streptococcal or staphylococcal). This has wrongly been termed primary peritonitis; in fact, it is secondary to some initial source of infection.
3. How can bacteria enter the peritoneal cavity from intra-abdominal viscera?
Correct answer: (1) Gangrene of a viscus, e.g. acute appendicitis, acute cholecystitis, diverticulitis or infarction of the intestine.(2) Perforation of a viscus, e.g. perforated duodenal ulcer, perforated appendicitis, rupture of intestine from trauma.(3) Postoperative leakage of an intestinal suture line.
2. How can bacteria enter the peritoneal cavity from the exterior?
Correct answer: (1) Penetrating wound.(2) Infection at laparotomy.(3) Peritoneal dialysis.
1. How can bacteria enter the peritoneal cavity?
Correct answer: (1) From the exterior.(2) From intra-abdominal viscera.(3) Via the bloodstream.(4) Via the female genital tract.
13. When are internal haemorrhoids more common?
Correct answer: During pregnancy owing to venous congestion caused by the large gravid uterus and the laxity of the supporting tissues caused by the influence of progesterone.
12. What is the pathology of haemorrhoids?
Correct answer: Internal haemorrhoids, or piles, are abnormal anal cushions, usually congested as a result of straining at stool, and traumatized by the passage of a hard stool. The anal cushions are particularly prominent in pregnancy owing to the venous…
11. What is the external haemorrhoid?
Correct answer: External haemorrhoids is a term that should be abandoned, as it is applied to a conglomeration of quite different entities including perianal haematoma (‘thrombosed external pile’), the ‘sentinel pile’ of fissure in ano and perianal skin tags. Strictly speaking, internal…
10. What is an internal haemorrhoid?
Correct answer: An internal haemorrhoid is a congested vascular cushion with dilated venous compartments draining into the superior rectal veins.
