Peritonitis in India--a decade's experience.

Generalised peritonitis is a common and dreaded surgical emergency. Its tropical spectrum continues to be different from its western counterpart. The study represents a retrospective analysis of 250 cases of peritonitis managed surgically over a decade at a large referral surgical unit at New Delhi. Perforations of the upper gastrointestinal tract viz: duodenal ulcer, enteric perforations etc. constitute the majority unlike western series where lower gastrointestinal tract perforations predominate. Despite significant delays in presentation, the overall prognosis remains comparable to the western figures. A comparatively younger age group involved may be responsible for better outcome.