[Effectiveness of continuous drainage in diffuse bacterial peritonitis].

From 1975 to 1977 we carried out postoperative, continuous peritoneal lavage of th abdomen in 41 patients with diffuse bacterial peritonitis. Although the peritonitis was arrested more frequently and earlier, comparison to 71 patients treated conventionally since 1970 showed an increase of wound complications and a prolongation of hospital stay from 25 to 44 days. The higher frequency of complications led to increased lethality from 42% to 54%. The harm by continuous peritoneal lavage out-weights the advantages, except for stercoraceous peritonitis.