Peritoneal lavage in acute peritonitis

ABSTRACT

This study was carried out on 60 patients presented by generalized peritonitis. After doing exploratory laparotomy and removal of the discharge by suction and dealing with the cause of peritonitis, the peritoneal cavity was cleaned using wet towels in 20 patients [dry toilet] and peritoneal lavage was done with normal saline for 20 patients and with 1% povidone iodine [PI] in 20 patients. Follow up was done for all the patients during their hospital stay with special reference to the number of daily dressings of the wound according to the amount of discharge, condition of wound healing and its complications, residual intra-abdominal abscesses and mortality in each group. We found better results in the group of saline lavage in the form of better healing of the wound, no residual abscesses and shorter hospital stay. So we recommend the use of normal saline in peritoneal lavage for acute peritonitis