Sepsis following operation for inflammatory intestinal disease

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Abstract
The incidence and pathogenesis of sepsis following 107 elective operations in 87 patients with inflammatory bowel disease was studied. Of the patients, 18% developed wound sepsis and 13% developed intra-abdominal abscess post-operatively. The prophylactic antimicrobial regimens used did not reduce the overall post-operative sepsis rates. The risk of developing post-operative sepsis was increased in patients with pre-operative enterocutaneous or entero-enteric fistulas, pre-existing abscess and those with evidence of active disease (serum albumin less than 3.0 g/dl and serum seromucoids greater than 400 mg/dl). The incidence of post-operative sepsis was not affected by corticosteroid therapy at the time of surgery.