title: A modified combination technique for performing diagnostic peritoneal lavage.
abstract: Existing open diagnostic peritoneal lavage techniques (DPL) use small bore catheters, through a small lower midline incision or infra-umbilical incision. This study evaluated a modified DPL technique using a 10 mm umbilical incision, with open insertion of a 20 French peritoneal lavage catheter. The catheter has 27 radial side holes in the terminal distal 13 cm, and a female Leur lock connector. Warmed saline is infused via a cystoscopy infusion set. The time required to perform a new technique was studied in 10 patients. The median time to catheter insertion was 2.4 +/- 3.8 min, infusion time 0.75 +/- 0.3 min, effusion time 0.3 +/- 1.7 min, and a median total time of 7.6 +/- 4.2 min (median +/- s.d.). There was no complications. This technique of DPL is cosmetically attractive, much quicker than existing techniques and we have found its initial use encouraging.
authors.affiliation: Trauma Department, Liverpool Hospital, Sydney, NSW, Australia.
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Sugrue
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Seger
authors.forename: K
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Gunning
authors.forename: D
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Sloane
authors.forename: S
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Deane
mesh_terms: D000007:Abdominal Injuries / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000601:surgery; D002404:Catheterization; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D010533:Peritoneal Lavage / Q000295:instrumentation / Q000379:methods*; D014546:Urinary Catheterization