[Diagnosis and treatment of postoperative bile peritonitis]

Over 7 years the authors had 37 cases of biliary peritonitis, in 19 of which the complication occurred after operation on the liver and biliary tract. The clinical picture was determined by the amount and rate of escape of bile into the abdominal cavity. The course of biliary peritonitis is often masked because the disease has no specific signs. Ultrasonic echolocation is used in making its diagnosis, it shows accumulation of fluid in the projection of the cystic seat and in the subhepatic space. Among 19 patients who underwent a repeated operation 6 died. Death was caused by progressive peritonitis, hepatorenal failure, thromboembolism of the pulmonary artery.