Conservative surgical treatment of diffuse peritonitis

Background. Peritonitis is, even today, a significant source of death and complications. The objective of this study was to determine the morbidity and mortality rates, the incidence of reoperations, and the need for additional treatment strategies (on demand) in patients with diffuse peritonitis. Methods. Prospective analysis including all patients (n = 258) with diffuse peritonitis admitted to our surgical service between November 1993 and April 1998 who underwent a uniform surgical treatment concept of peritonitis including early intervention, source control, and extensive intraoperative lavage. Results. The 258 patients with diffuse peritonitis averaged a mean Mannheim Peritonitis Index of 27.1 points (range, 11-43 points). Source control at the initial operation was possible in 230 of the patients (89%), of those, 21 patients (9%) needed reintervention. In 28 patients (11%), source control was not Possible at the initial operation. Twenty of these patients (71%) had to undergo additional treatment strategies (on demand) such as continuous lavage and/or laparostomy. Overall 228 of the 258 patients (88%) needed just 1 initial surgical intervention. The overall morbidity rate was 41%; the rate of reoperation was 12%, and the hospital mortality rate was 14%. Conclusions. A conservative surgical treatment concept supplemented with "extensive" intraoperative lavage reduces the reoperation rate compared with other standards of peritonitis and achieves a low mortality rate in patients with diffuse peritonitis.