Biliary Peritonitis

Biliary Peritonitis is a serious medical condition where bile, a digestive fluid produced by your liver and stored in your gallbladder, leaks into your abdominal cavity. Your abdominal cavity is lined by a membrane called the peritoneum. When bile leaks into this space, it causes severe inflammation and can quickly lead to infection of the peritoneum, known as peritonitis. This is an urgent situation because the abdomen is a sterile environment, and bile is highly irritating and can introduce bacteria, leading to widespread infection (sepsis) if not treated promptly. This leakage typically occurs due to a rupture or injury to the gallbladder or bile ducts, which can happen from various reasons such as severe inflammation (like acute cholecystitis), complications from abdominal surgery, trauma, or rarely, from gallstones eroding through the gallbladder wall. To diagnose and manage Biliary Peritonitis, your healthcare team relies on a series of lab tests. These tests help determine the extent of inflammation and infection in your body (e.g., white blood cell count), assess the function of your liver and other organs, and look for signs that confirm the presence of bile or infection in your abdominal fluid if a sample is collected. The results guide treatment decisions and help monitor your progress.