Background: Peritonitis is an inflammatory response of peritoneum to different stimuli caused by bacteria. It can also be fungal or chemical. Secondary peritonitis is due to spillage of gastrointestinal or genitourinary organisms in to peritoneal cavity due to breech in the
mucosal barrier. Mannheim peritonitis index (MPI) was developed by Wacha and Linder in 1983. The Mannheim Peritonitis Index (MPI) is a specific score which has a very good accuracy and serves as an easy way to assess clinical parameters allowing the determination of the individual prognosis of patients with peritonitis. Methods: This  rospective observational study was conducted by the Department of General Surgery at Dhanalakshmisrinivasan medical college and hospital from July 2012 to July 2013. A total of 60 patients were included in the study where in diagnosis of peritonitis due to hollow viscous perforation was made by history and clinical examination and
relevant investigations. Results: The mean age group of the subjects was 45.72 years ranging from 15 to 75 yrs. In our study group, 33.3% of the patients had morbidity where in MPI score more than 29 had the highest morbidity (72%) where in the overall mortality rate in our study
was 12%.
Keywords: Peritonitis; Mannheim Peritonitis Index; Hollow viscous perforation.