Fine-catheter aspiration cytology of peritoneal cavity improves decision-making about difficult cases of acute abdominal pain.

Fine-catheter aspiration cytology of the peritoneal cavity was successfully undertaken in 25 of 27 hospital inpatients with acute abdominal pain because it was not clear whether they required urgent laparotomy. Cytological specimens were prepared by the cyto-sieve technique. The main test criterion was the percentage of neutrophils in the peritoneal cell sample. The decision before the test about urgent laparotomy was correct in 14 of the 27 patients, whereas the decision after the test was correct in 26 of the 27 patients (p = 0.001). 4 patients were saved unnecessary laparotomy and 8 further delay in laparotomy.