title: [Atypical postoperative peritonitis].
abstract: In the present conditions of development of the medical sciences the wide and varied use of pre- and postoperative antibiotherapy, to which is added the complex therapy carried out in the intensive-care unit, have changed the course of the dramatic postoperative peritonitis that at present do not develop any more according to the classical symptomatology. The key to success in these cases is the discovery as rapidly as possible of the moment when peritoneal infection has started to develop in view of applying the only correct treatment--reintervention. The present study makes an analysis of 32 cases and stresses the atypical evolution of postoperative peritonitis: contracture, pain, high fever and hyperleukocytosis cannot be considered any more as constant and certain signs. Meteorism and gastric stasis that is prolonged or that developes after 4-8 days following surgery are the most frequently encountered of the signs and are considered to be the most important. Exploratory laparotomy is the most correct attitude in dubious cases.
mesh_terms: D006801:Humans; D010538:Peritonitis / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000209:etiology; D011183:Postoperative Complications
vernacular_title: Peritonita atipică postoperatorie