[Conservative management of postappendectomy intraperitoneal abscess. Preliminary results]

For decades, prestigious authors of surgical texts have established that intraperitoneal abscess should be managed by laparotomy, drainage of pus, and antibiotics. However, availability of new and more powerful antimicrobials have allowed for other therapeutic modalities.

Thirty children in whom clinical or sonographic presence of purulent collection in peritoneal cavity as consequence of appendectomy were studied. With Ethical Committee and parental consent, we filled out the corresponding protocol. We decided to carry out pre-and post-test sonogram and administration of gentamycin 5-7 mg/kg/day or cefotaxime 100 mg/kg/day IV for 10-14 days.

There was improvement in all cases within the first 72 h and curing during the second week. No patient required laparotomy. Employment of antimicrobials was curative.