The efficacy of peritoneal lavage at elective abdominal operations

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Abstract
Human serum albumin microspheres of 1 μm diameter labelled with technetium-99 m were evaluated as a model for bacteria in two animal species. Peritoneal lavage recovered comparable amounts of an inoculum of microspheres and simultaneously instilled Escherichia coli. A prospective study was undertaken of 38 patients undergoing elective abdominal operations. Three lavages, each of 500 ml normal saline, were used. Over 80 per cent of the saline was recovered in 37 of the 38 patients with a median of 93 per cent. Recovery of microspheres was assessed from above the spleen, from Morison's pouch and from the pouch of Douglas. There was no difference in the recovery rates from the three sites of placement but significantly fewer microspheres were recovered via a right subcostal incision (median 59 per cent) compared with an upper midline incision (median 91 per cent).