Analysis of variables predictive of severity in biliary peritonitis.
OBJECTIVE
To analyze clinical and laboratory findings in order to find variables predictive of severity of Biliary Peritonitis (BP).


METHODS
Physical findings, course of illness, imaging and laboratory data were evaluated in 22 patients with BP, and statistically analysed to assess their prognostic significance.


RESULTS
Serious illness and worse outcome were associated with: age > 60 years (P= 0.034), long time between onset of symptoms and treatment (P= 0.025), fever > 38°C (P= 0.009), WBC count > 17.000 cell/mm3 (P=0.043), diffuse abdominal pain (P= 0.034), and infected bile (P= 0.048).


CONCLUSIONS
Most patients become severely ill due to supervening infection, while early bile drainage avoids serious complications. In addition, abdominal pain, fever and WBC count are also predictive of severity of BP.
University of Rome, Rome, Italy.
Raimondo
R
Gabriele
Antonio
A
Bolognese
Giorgio
G
De Toma
Luca
L
Impara
Marco
M
Conte
Pierfrancesco
P
Di Cello
Anna Rita
AR
Forcione
Paolo
P
Izzo
Virgilio
V
Nicolanti
Federico
F
Pugliese
Luciano
L
Izzo
D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D001646:Bile; D006801:Humans; D008875:Middle Aged; D010538:Peritonitis / Q000175:diagnosis*; D011379:Prognosis; D012720:Severity of Illness Index; D055815:Young Adult