Granulomatous peritonitis due to cellulose fibers from disposable surgical fabrics: laboratory investigation and clinical implications.

Two patients with postoperative granulomatous peritonitis were found to have lesions with a distinctive type of foreign body. Laboratory investigation revealed this foreign body to be cellulose, morphologically identical with fibers derived from disposable surgical gowns and drapes, and cotton. The same type of foreign body granulomas was produced experimentally by introducing lint prepared from these gowns and drapes into the peritoneal cavities of rats. Since disposable gowns and drapes are being used with increasing frequency, cellulose lint derived from these sources should be added to the list of hazardous foreign materials which are potential wound contaminants.