ABSTRACT
Introduction: Peritonitis secondary to gut perforation is one of the most common surgical emergencies in India and is associated with high morbidity and mortality. The aim of this study was to recognize the spectrum of perforation peritonitis as managed at Govt. Chhattisgarh Institute of Medical Sciences hospital Bilaspur Chhattisgarh, in central India. Method: A retrospective analysis of 618 patients was done,in terms of clinical presentation, duration, seasonal variation, operative findings and post operative morbidity and mortality, admitted at Chhattisgarh Institute of Medical Sciences hospital Bilaspur. Chhattisgarh, over a period of 03 years. All the patients had undergone emergency laprotomy and the site of perforation was identified. Results: The most common site of perforation was prepyloric (393 cases. 63.6%).In 22.16% of the cases the perforation was associated with typhoid fever and in 2.7% cases with abdominal Koch’s. Trauma however showed perforation in only 5.6% cases, mainly jejunal. The overall mortality was 12.13%. Conclusion: Non traumatic upper gastrointestinal perforation peritonitis is common in our place. In contrast to the west, where lower gastrointestinal tract perforations predominate, in India upper gastrointestinal tract perforations constitute the majority of cases.