[Differential diagnostic significance of lactate in acute abdominal diseases]

Fourty-four patients with abdominal complaints were analysed for blood lactate levels prior to surgery. Exploratory surgical diagnoses were co-related with blood lactate levels and these co-relations are summarised here. Rise in blood lactate level was found to be significant in all cases of mesenteric infarction (n = 10). The lactate levels were also high in all cases of general peritonitis (n = 4) and 50% (5 out of 10) of cases of bowel strangulation. In all the other surgical explorations, besides the above mentioned, blood lactate was found to lie within a normal range. From the aforesaid study, although pertaining to a small group, it seems plausible that patients presenting with abdominal diseases associated with an elevated blood lactate level represent a surgical emergency. Measurement of blood lactate level can be of great help in the diagnosis of acute surgical emergencies needing early exploration, especially in cases of mesenteric infarction.