Vol. 9, Issue 4, Part B (2025)

Introduction: Generalized acute peritonitis from ileal perforation remains a serious surgical emergency, particularly in developing countries. This study aims to describe its epidemiological, diagnostic, therapeutic, and evolutionary aspects in a Senegalese hospital setting.
Methods: This was a retrospective, descriptive, and analytical study conducted over 8.5 years (January 2017 to June 2025) in the General Surgery Department of Idrissa Pouye General Hospital, Dakar. We included all patients operated on for generalized acute peritonitis due to ileal perforation.
Results: Thirty-six patients were included. The mean age was 33.25 years, with a male predominance (sex ratio 3:1). Abdominal pain (100%), vomiting (50%), and cessation of bowel movements (77.7%) were the main presenting symptoms. The mean consultation delay was 5.4 days. Typhoid fever was the leading cause (41.7%). All patients underwent emergency laparotomy. The main surgical procedures were ileal resection with ileostomy (86.1%) and peritoneal lavage. Postoperative morbidity was 19.4%, dominated by parietal suppuration. The mortality rate was 13.9%.
Conclusion: Ileal perforation peritonitis primarily affects young males in our context, with typhoid fever as the main etiology. The prognosis depends on early diagnosis and surgical management, which often requires resection with protective ileostomy. Public health measures against typhoid fever are crucial for prevention.