Surgical treatment of severe intra-abdominal infection.
Intra-abdominal infection caused by a perforated hollow viscus, transmural bowel necrosis or pancreatic necrosis is a life-threatening illness. The cornerstone of surgical treatment is the elimation of the infectious focus, debridement and intra-operative lavage. In severe intra-abdominal infection secondary procedures, such as continuous postoperative peritoneal lavage or planned re-explorations are often done to prevent residual or recurrent infection. The patient benefit of these procedures in terms of morbidity and mortality is not evident. New therapeutic modalities such a intra-abdominal administration of fibrinolytic agents or anty-cytokine antibodies, which are primarily based on pathophysiological processes in the abdominal cavity following infection, may improve patient outcome.
van Goor
H
H
Department of Surgery, University Hospital Nijmegen, Holland.
D000005:Abdomen / Q000382:microbiology / Q000601:surgery; D000818:Animals; D001424:Bacterial Infections / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000209:etiology / Q000601:surgery*; D003131:Combined Modality Therapy; D003646:Debridement; D005343:Fibrinolytic Agents / Q000627:therapeutic use; D006801:Humans; D010533:Peritoneal Lavage; D010538:Peritonitis / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000382:microbiology / Q000601:surgery*; D016896:Treatment Outcome
D005343:Fibrinolytic Agents