Generalized peritonitis. To irrigate or not to irrigate the abdominal cavity.

The objectives of surgery for generalized peritonitis are to eliminate the source of continual bacterial contamination and to prevent septicemia and intra-abdominal abscess formation. A prospective randomized study of three different operative approaches of treating residual peritoneal contamination was undertaken: group 1, no peritoneal irrigation (14 patients); group 2, intraoperative peritoneal irrigation (15 patients); group 3, both intraoperative and postoperative peritoneal irrigation (15 patients). The mortality in groups 1, 2, and 3 was 28.5%, 26.6%, and 33%, respectively. The overall incidence of septicemia and intra-abdominal abscesses in groups 1, 2, and 3 was 23%, 22%, and 17%, respectively. In those patients who survived, the incidence of intra-abdominal abscesses, wound infection, and septicemia was 6%, 23%, and 13%, respectively. In this series, there was no detectable difference in the mortality and infectious complications between the three treatment groups. The only clinical factors that adversely affected mortality and morbidity were peritonitis originating from the colon and age greater than 60 years. Early surgical intervention with removal of the source of peritonitis, debridement of all necrotic tissue, and drainage of abscesses remain the cornerstones of successful therapy in generalized peritonitis.