[Peritoneal drainage in emergency surgery of the appendix, colon and small intestine]

Retrospective study of patients who underwent as an emergency, a peritoneal drainage during laparotomy for peritonitis with perforated appendix (147 cases), or operation for lage bowel (68 cases) or small bowel (46 cases) pathology. The technique of drainage number of drains, duration of drainage, and length of stay in hospital are examined, as well as antibiotherapy. The conclusions do not allow us to attribute a harmful influence to peritoneal drainage, except perhaps that the duration of stay in hospital can be longer. The absence of a comparison group does not allow us to prove the utility of peritoneal drainage. The literature at our disposal is discussed, the majority of which is opposed to peritoneal drainage.