title: The value of continuous 72-hour peritoneal lavage for peritonitis.
abstract: Studies were performed in 120 rabbits to determine whether 72-hour peritoneal lavage is beneficial or harmful in the treatment of peritonitis. Results showed that against a high concentration fecal inoculum (90 percent mortality), peritoneal lavage containing gentamicin and clindamycin reduced mortality to 10 to 20 percent (p less than 0.05). Parenteral antibiotics alone and lavage not containing antibiotics did not decrease mortality. By contrast, against a low fecal inoculum (30 percent mortality), peritoneal lavage containing gentamicin and clindamycin did not alter mortality. However, lavage not containing antibiotics increased mortality to 70 to 80 percent (p less than 0.05). These data demonstrate that continuous peritoneal lavage may be helpful in the treatment of peritonitis provided the lavage solution contains antibiotics and may be harmful if it does not contain antibiotics.
authors.affiliation: Department of Surgery, Loyola University Medical Center, Maywood, Illinois 60153.
authors.forename: P B
authors.initials: PB
authors.lastname: Dobrin
authors.forename: P
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: O'Keefe
authors.forename: W
authors.initials: W
authors.lastname: Tatarowicz
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Stachowski
authors.forename: R J
authors.initials: RJ
authors.lastname: Freeark
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D001424:Bacterial Infections / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000382:microbiology / Q000628:therapy; D002981:Clindamycin / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000627:therapeutic use; D004359:Drug Therapy, Combination / Q000627:therapeutic use; D005839:Gentamicins / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000627:therapeutic use; D008297:Male; D010533:Peritoneal Lavage; D010538:Peritonitis / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000382:microbiology / Q000628:therapy*; D011817:Rabbits; D013997:Time Factors
chemical_list: D005839:Gentamicins; D002981:Clindamycin