[Indications for re-operation for infectious complication of abdominal surgery]

The onset of infective phenomena following abdominal surgical operations requires a full assessment based on the danger of septic intraperitoneal focus, which can only be cured by surgery. The indications for re-operation depend on the presence, or absence, of two types of symptom: Firstly, the existence of local signs, such as peritonitis, intestinal obstruction, whether clinically or on XRay. Furthermore, the onset of general signs, such as septicemia, septic shock, acute organic renal failure, or interstitial pneumonia, may lead to re-operation, even in the absence of local abdominal signs, provided one has eliminated any obvious extra-peritoneal septic focus.