Final answer:
A surgical procedure involving a perforated viscera is considered emergency surgery due to peritonitis, which is a serious and life-threatening condition that can result from a breach in the alimentary canal, leading to the contents entering the peritoneal cavity.
Step-by-step explanation:
A surgical procedure involving a perforated viscera is classified as emergency surgery due to peritonitis. Peritonitis is the inflammation of the peritoneum, and it can occur when the alimentary canal is breached. This breach allows gastrointestinal contents to enter the peritoneal cavity, which is a critical condition necessitating urgent medical intervention. The perforation of gastrointestinal organs, such as the occurrence of a stomach ulcer that perforates the stomach wall, can lead to a spill of gastric juices into the peritoneal cavity, resulting in chemical peritonitis.
Other examples include hemorrhagic peritonitis, which can occur after a ruptured tubal pregnancy or due to an injury to organs like the liver or spleen, causing blood to fill the peritoneal cavity. Severe peritonitis can also be associated with bacterial infections from conditions such as appendicitis, colonic diverticulitis, or pelvic inflammatory disease. The seriousness of peritonitis has historically led to high mortality rates which have been reduced due to advancements in emergency surgery, anesthesia safety, critical care, and antibiotic therapy. Nonetheless, the mortality rate from peritonitis still ranges between 30 to 40 percent, marking the condition as potentially life-threatening and requiring immediate and intensive treatment.