Abstract
Operative management of intraabdominal infections still rests on the principles of elimination of focus, reduction of contamination of the peritoneal cavity, and treatment of residual infection. To control the source of contamination from a perforated viscus primary closure, exclusion or resection may be considered with respect to the severity of peritonitis and to the underlying disease. The principle of “peritoneal toilet” with complementary use of systemic and/or local antibiotics is generally accepted even if the value of aggressive debridement is still debated controversely. For the treatment of residual and the prevention of recurrent infection, closed and open lavage techniques, the left-open abdomen, and planned relaparotomy represent the major approaches in severe generalized peritonitis when the infectious focus might not be securely controlled. The values and disadvantages of different regimens are discussed, additional measures are briefly described, and an outlook on areas of further research is given.
Résumé
Le traitement chirurgical des infections intra-abdominales repose sur l'élimination des foyers septiques, la réduction de la contamination de la cavité péritonéale et le traitement de l'infection résiduelle. Pour contrôler la source de contamination qu'est la fermeture primitive de la perforation d'un organe creux, on peut pratiquer une résection ou une dérivation selon la sévérité de la péritonite ou le terrain. Le principe de la “toilette péritonéale” avec utilisation complémentaire d'antibiotiques par voie locale ou systémique est admis mais sa valeur est fort contestée. Quant au traitement des infections résiduelles et à la prévention des récidives, on peut utiliser les techniques d'irrigation ouverte ou fermée, le ventre ouvert et le second look, techniques majeures dans l'approche de la péritonite généralisée sévère lorsqu'on ne peut contrôler le foyer infectieux avec sécurité. La valeur et les inconvénients des différentes techniques sont discutées. On décrit également les méthodes adjuvantes et les domaines de la recherche future.
Resumen
El manejo operatorio de las infecciones intraabdominales todavía se fundamenta en los principios de eliminar el foco, reducir la contaminación de la cavida peritoneal, y tratar la infección residual. Para controlar la fuente de contaminación a partir del cierre primario de una víscera perforada se puede considerar la exclusion o la resección, según la gravedad de la peritonitis y de la enfermedad de base. El principio de la “toilet peritoneal” con el empleo complementario de antibióticos sistémicos y/o locales es generalmente aceptado, aunque la utilidad del desbridamiento agresivo es todavía motivo de controversia. En cuanto al tratamiento de la infección residual y la prevención de la infección recurrente, las técnicas de lavado abierto y cerrado, el abdomen abierto (laparostomía), y la relaparotomía programada representan los principales aproches en casos de peritonitis generalizada severa en que el foco infeccioso no puede ser controlado con entera seguridad. Se discuten las ventajas y desventajas de los diferentes regímenes, se describen brevemente las medidas terapéuticas adicionales, y se presenta una visión prospectiva sobre las áreas de investigación futura.
Similar content being viewed by others
References
Kirschner, M.: Die Behandlung der akuten eitrigen freien Bauchfellentzündung. Arch. Klin. Chir.142:253, 1926
Meakins, J.L., Solomkin, J.S., Allo, M.D., Dellinger, P., Howard, R.J., Simmons, R.L.: A proposed classification of intra-abdominal infections. Arch. Surg.119:1372, 1984
Dellinger, E.P., Wertz, M.J., Meakins, J.L., Solomkin, J.S., Allo, M.D., Howard, R.J., Simmons, R.L.: Surgical infection stratification system for intra-abdominal infection. Arch. Surg.120:20, 1985
Wittmann, D.H., Teichmann, W., Frommelt, L.: Die Bedeutung der Infektionserreger für die Therapie der eitrigen Peritonitis. Chirurg56:363, 1985
Hudspeth, A.S.: Radical surgical debridement in the treatment of advanced generalized bacterial peritonitis. Arch. Surg.110:1233, 1975
Bohnen, J., Boulanger, M., Meakins, J.L., McLean, P.H.: Prognosis in generalized peritonitis. Arch. Surg.118:285, 1983
Hohenberger, W., Mewes, R., Köckerling, F., Gall, F.P.: Perforationen an Dünn- und Dickdarm. Chirurg58:561, 1987
Chaikof, E.L.: Nontraumatic perforation of the small bowel. Am. J. Surg.153:355, 1987
Krukowski, Z.H., Matheson, N.A.: Emergency surgery for diverticular disease complicated by generalized and faecal peritonitis: A review. Br. J. Surg.71:921, 1984
Eng, K., Ranson, J.H.C., Localio, S.A.: Resection of the perforated segment. Am. J. Surg.133:67, 1977
Blanco-Benavides, R.: Subcutaneous positioning of high-risk colonic anastomoses and colonic lesions (letter). Arch. Surg.121:974, 1986
Fatzer, H., Wyss, C.: Ileumperforation als Erstmanifestation eines M. Crohn während der Schwangerschaft. Chirurg57:646, 1986
Ahrenholz, D.H., Simmons, R.L.: Peritonitis and other intraabdominal infections. In Surgical Infectious Disease, R.L. Simmons, R.J. Howard, editors, New York, Appleton Century-Crofts, 1982, pp. 795–843
Maingot, R.: Acute peritonitis. In Abdominal Operations, vol. 2, sixth edition, R. Maingot, editor, New York, Appleton Century-Crofts, 1974, p. 1416
Linder, M.M., Wacha, H.: Lokale Antibiotika oder Antiseptika bei der Behandlung der diffusen eitrigen Peritonitis. In Peritonitis, H. Wacha, editor, Berlin, Springer-Verlag, 1987, pp. 30–35
Oguz, M., Bektemir, M., Dülger, M., Yalin, R.: Treatment of experimental peritonitis with intraperitoneal povidone-iodine-solution. Can. J. Surg.31:169, 1988
Görtz, G., Häring, R.: Die intraoperative antiseptische Lokaltherapie der Peritonitis—Experimentelle und klinische Erfahrungen. In Peritonitis, H. Wacha, editor, Berlin, Springer-Verlag, 1987, pp. 10–29
Noon, G.P., Beall, Jr., A.C., Jordan, Jr., G.L., Riggs, S., De Bakey, M.E.: Clinical evaluation of peritoneal irrigation with antibiotic solution. Surgery62:73, 1967
Stewart, D.J., Matheson, N.A.: Peritoneal lavage in appendicular peritonitis. Br. J. Surg.65:54, 1978
Weissenhofer, W., Meissner, K., Metka, K.: Peritonealspülung mit Betaisodona-Lösung. Medizin 4,19:1895, 1976
Browne, M.K., McKenzie, M., Doyle, P.J.: A controlled trial of Taurolin in established bacterial peritonitis. Surg. Gynecol. Obstet.146:721, 1978
Linder, M.M., Ott, W., Wesch, G., Wicki, O., Marti, M.C., Moser, G.: Die Behandlung der eitrigen Bauchfellentzündung. Untersuchungen des Krankengutes und Erfahrungen mit dem neuen Chemotherapeutikum und Antiendotoxin Taurolin. Langenbecks Arch. Chir.353:241, 1981
Nomikos, I.N., Katsonyanni, K., Papaioannon, A.N.: Washing with or without chloramphenicol in the treatment of peritonitis: A prospective clinical trial. Surgery99:20, 1986
Krukowski, Z.H., Al-Sayer, H.M., Reid, T.M.S., Matheson, N.A.: Effect of topical and systemic antibiotics on bacterial growth kinesis in generalized peritonitis in man. Br. J. Surg.74:303, 1987
Dobrin, P.B., O'Keefe, P., Tataronicz, W., Stachowski, M., Freeark, R.J.: The value of continuous 72-hour peritoneal lavage for peritonitis. Am. J. Surg.157:368, 1989
Wittmann, D.H., Schassan, H.-H.: Penetration of eightβ-lactam antibiotics into peritoneal fluid. Arch. Surg.118:205, 1983
Saha, S.K.: Peritoneal lavage with metronidazole. Surg. Gynecol. Obstet.160:355, 1985
Wacha, H., Interwies, E.: Prognose der diffusen Peritonitis vor und nach Einführung der Antibiotika—Eine Literaturstudie. In Peritonitis, H. Wacha, editor, Berlin, Springer-Verlag, 1987, pp. 36–72
Hau, T., Ahrenholz, D.H., Simmons, R.L.: Secondary bacterial peritonitis: The biologic basis of treatment. Curr. Probl. Surg.16:1, 1979
Rotstein, O.D., Pruett, T.L., Simmons, R.L.: Fibrin in peritonitis. V. Fibrin inhibits phagocytic killing ofE. coli by human polymorphonuclear leukocytes. Ann. Surg.203:413, 1986
Polk, H.C., Fry, D.E.: Radical peritoneal debridement for established peritonitis. Ann. Surg.192:350, 1980
Leiboff, A.R., Soroff, H.S.: The treatment of generalized peritonitis by closed postoperative peritoneal lavage. A critical review of the literature. Arch. Surg.122:1005, 1987
Lehr, L., Pichlmayr, R., Pahlow, J., Guthy, E.: Postoperativkontinuierliche offene dorsoventrale Bauchspülung bei schweren Formen der Peritonitis—Technik und Taktik. In Die chirurgische Behandlung der Peritonitis, E. Kern, editor, Berlin, Springer-Verlag, 1983, pp. 67–81
Teichmann, W., Wittmann, D.M., Andreone, P.A.: Scheduled reoperations (etappenlavage) for diffuse peritonitis. Arch. Surg.121:147, 1986
Kujath, P., Arbogast, R., Kern, E., Dämmrich, J.: Histologische Untersuchungen während des Verlaufs der programmierten Peritoneal-Lavage. Chirurg56:170, 1985
Teichmann, W., Eggert, A., Herden, N., Kirschner, H., Welter, J.: Erfahrungen mit der Etappenlavage seit 1980. In Die chirurgische Behandlung der Peritonitis, E. Kern, editor, Berlin, Springer-Verlag, 1983, pp. 62–66
Arbogast, R.: Erfahrungen der Würzburger Klinik mit der programmierten Lavage bei Peritonitis. In Die chirurgische Behandlung der Peritonitis, E. Kern, editor, Berlin, Springer-Verlag, 1983, pp. 91–101
Andrus, C., Doering, M., Herrmann, V.M., Kaminski, D.: Planned reoperation for generalized intraabdominal infection. Am. J. Surg.152:682, 1986
Schein, M., Saadia, R., Freinkel, Z., Decker, G.A.G.: Aggressive treatment of severe peritonitis: A prospective study. Br. J. Surg.75:173, 1988
Gross, E., Erhard, J., Eigler, F.W.: Kunststoffnetze als Hilfsmittel zum Bauchdeckenverschluß bei postoperativer Peritonitis, postoperativer Bauchdeckendehiszenz und zur Rekonstruktion der Bauchwand. Zentralbl. Chirurgie109:1238, 1984
Krause, R.: Reintervention in abdominal surgery. World J. Surg.11:226, 1987
Garcia-Sabrido, J.L., Tallado, J.M., Christou, N.V., Polo, J.R., Valdecantos, E.: Treatment of severe intra-abdominal sepsis and/or necrotic foci by an “open-abdomen” approach. Arch. Surg.123:152, 1988
Hoffmann, R., Kessler, W., Angwerd, R.: Das “offengelassene Abdomen.” Helv. Chir. Acta52:137, 1985
Altemeier, W.A., Culbertson, W.R., Fullen, W.D., Shook, C.D.: Intraabdominal abscesses. Am. J. Surg.125:70, 1973
Haslaz, N.A.: Subphrenic abscess: Myths and facts. J. Am. Med. Assoc.214:724, 1970
Bradley, S.J., Jurkovich, G.J., Pearlman, N.W., Stiegmann, G.V.: Controlled open drainage of severe intra-abdominal sepsis. Arch. Surg.120:629, 1985
Olak, J., Christou, N.V., Stein, L.A., Casola, G., Meakins, J.L.: Operative vs percutaneous drainage of intra-abdominal abscesses. Arch. Surg.121:141, 1986
Deveney, C.W., Lurie, K., Deveney, K.E.: Improved treatment of intraabdominal abscess. Arch. Surg.123:1126, 1988
Treutner, K.H., Truong, S., Klose, K., Schubert, T., Schumpelick, V., Günther, R.W.: Intra-abdominal abscesses—percutaneous catheter drainage versus operative treatment. Klin. Wochenschr.67:486, 1989
Olofson, P., Nylander, G., Olsson, P.: Endotoxin: Routes of transport in experimental peritonitis. Am. J. Surg.151:443, 1986
Author information
Authors and Affiliations
Rights and permissions
About this article
Cite this article
Farthmann, E.H., Schöffel, U. Principles and limitations of operative management of intraabdominal infections. World J. Surg. 14, 210–217 (1990). https://doi.org/10.1007/BF01664875
Issue Date:
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/BF01664875