[Endotoxin and eicosanoids--trigger function, endogenous and therapeutic elimination in 120 surgical patients]

In patients with diffuse bacterial peritonitis and septic shock a correlation is found between endotoxin and certain eicosanoids and of both factors to the clinical degree of severity of the disease. Respiratory dysfunction secondary to septic shock is associated with an impairment of endogenous prostaglandin elimination in favour of pathological pulmonary de novo synthesis. Therapeutical elimination of endotoxin and eicosanoids can be effectively achieved by continuous intraperitoneal lavage during and after surgery for the septic focus.