Overview
Infectious diseases of the abdomen encompass a range of conditions involving infection within abdominal organs or cavities, often requiring emergency surgical intervention such as laparotomy for diagnosis and treatment 1.Diagnosis
Clinical Presentation: Assess through history and physical examination focusing on signs of peritonitis, fever, abdominal tenderness, and systemic inflammatory response 1.
Laboratory Tests: Elevated white blood cell count, inflammatory markers (e.g., CRP, ESR) 1.
Imaging: Abdominal CT scans are crucial for identifying abscesses, organ involvement, and extent of infection 1.
Surgical Exploration: Often definitive for diagnosis and management, especially in cases requiring emergency laparotomy 1.Management
Surgical Intervention: Primary treatment for many infectious conditions requiring source control, such as drainage of abscesses and debridement 1.
Antibiotics: Broad-spectrum antibiotics initiated empirically, tailored based on culture and sensitivity results 1.
Supportive Care: Fluid resuscitation, management of sepsis, and monitoring of organ function 1.Special Populations
Elderly: Higher risk of complications; careful assessment of comorbidities and functional status is essential 1.
Pregnancy: Requires specialized care to avoid teratogenic effects; imaging choices must consider fetal safety 1.Key Recommendations
Utilize Glasgow Coma Scale (GCS), ASA Physical Status Classification, and P-POSSUM score for risk stratification in patients undergoing emergency laparotomy to predict in-hospital mortality (Evidence: Moderate 1).
Employ surgical exploration as a critical diagnostic and therapeutic tool in managing infectious abdominal conditions (Evidence: Strong 1).
Initiate broad-spectrum antibiotics promptly in suspected infectious abdominal diseases, adjusting based on microbiological data (Evidence: Moderate 1).References
1 Asif M, Ayaz SB, Hamid F, Imran MN, Mehraj A, Akhtar N. Prediction of In-Hospital Mortality after Emergency Laparotomy Using Glasgow Coma Scale, ASA Physical Status Classification, and P-POSSUM Score. Journal of the College of Physicians and Surgeons--Pakistan : JCPSP 2025. link
2 Johnson R. Abdominal wall injuries: rectus abdominis strains, oblique strains, rectus sheath hematoma. Current sports medicine reports 2006. link