An appraisal of peritoneal lavage in the diagnosis of the acute abdomen.
Forty-seven selected patients presenting with acute abdominal symptoms were investigated by examination of the fluid obtained by peritoneal lavage. In 34 patients this confirmed the clinical diagnosis, in 11 it was a more positive help in that it corrected an erroneous clinical diagnosis and in 2 the results of the investigation were misleading.
D000006:Abdomen, Acute / Q000175:diagnosis*; D001202:Ascitic Fluid / Q000166:cytology; D003581:Cytodiagnosis; D004322:Drainage / Q000379:methods; D004906:Erythrocyte Count; D006470:Hemorrhage / Q000175:diagnosis; D006801:Humans; D007958:Leukocyte Count; D010195:Pancreatitis / Q000175:diagnosis; D010529:Peritoneal Cavity