[Surgical therapy of peritonitis]

Despite significant progress the therapy of peritonitis remains challenging. With a mortality of up to 20% peritonitis is a predominant cause of death due to surgical infections. An early and efficient source control combined with effective antibiotic therapy and modern intensive care and sepsis therapy are definitive for the outcome and prognosis of secondary peritonitis. In approximately 90% of patients an effective source control can be achieved by one single operation with extensive peritoneal lavage. A reoperation is necessary in only about 10% of patients. The aggressive concepts of planned relaparotomy or open packing are associated with increased morbidity and are indicated only in rare cases. The gold standard is to attempt a definitive source control by one single operation. An operative revision should be performed only on demand. The antibiotic therapy should begin with a broadly calculated empirical therapy and should later be adapted to microbiological findings. The therapy of sepsis requires standardized and state of the art intensive care.