Abstract
Background: Peritonitis due to hollow viscus perforation is one of the causes of acute abdomen warranting emergency laparotomy.
The causes for gastro-intestinal perforation vary between the western countries and Asian countries like India. Though
there are many studies in this regard, very limited studies are available pertaining to southern parts of India. Therefore this study
was carried out to assess the common cause, factors associated and patient outcome in peritonitis due to gastro-intestinal perforation.
Methods: This study was conducted in tertiary care hospital, Pondicherry between July 2012 and July 2014. Fifty five patients
who underwent exploratory laparotomy for gastro-intestinal perforation were included in the study and assessed. Appropriate
surgeries were performed for the site and cause of the perforation. Patient’s history, clinical examination findings, investigations,
intra-operative findings, operative procedure and post-operative complications were recorded and assessed.
Results: In this study, 21.8% patients were in the age group of 51-60 years. Male to female ratio was found to be 6.8:1. The
most common symptom was abdominal pain which was present in all the patients. Among patients with peptic ulcer perforation,
73.3% of the patients were smokers and 42.4% of the patients gave history of NSAID intake. Peptic ulcer perforation was found
in 60% of the patients. Post-operative complications occurred in 34.5% of the patients. Mortality rate was 7.3% in this study.
Conclusion: Even in the Era of good drugs Peptic ulcer perforation was the commonest cause for perforation. Peptic ulcer
perforation was significantly associated with smoking in this study. Alcohol consumption, prior NSAID abuse didn’t significantly
affect the outcome of the patients.

Key words: Perforation, Factors associated, Peritonitis