peritonitis

[LoneSEAL]

I have a dumb question that I'm afraid to ask others...but here goes anyway:

Why is it that in peritonitis there is absent bowel sounds? Does the absent bowel sounds mean that the small intestine is not working? Would this be equivalent to an obstruction of the intestines?

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[Idiopathic]

The fluid builds up between the abdominal wall and the intestines, causing sound to be less efficiently transmitted. The bowel sounds may still be there, but not be noticed.

 

[LoneSEAL]

Oh...thanks so much! Such a simple answer too

 

[Mango]

Actually, the lack of bowel sounds is due to ileus, which peritonitis almost always causes (unless the cause of the peritonitis is extremely focal).