In almost all published cases, as well as in our small series of three patients, similar clinical symptoms are reported. The most striking observation however, was the high incidence of exploratory laparotomies or laparoscopies.
In retrospect many of these surgical procedures may have been avoidable, if the primary nature of the peritonitis had been recognized.
We therefore try to highlight the predominant symptoms as well as the prefer- able diagnostic procedures for timely diagnosis and therapy of GAS peritonitis.