[Postoperative peritonitis. A contribution on diagnosis]

Symptoms and signs of 18 patients with postoperative bacterial peritonitis were compared with the findings in uncomplicated postoperative cases. Their diagnostic values were examined: 1. Elevated temperature, hyperventilation, and somnolence are relevant, being indicative of bacterial peritonitis and already occurring before the typical findings on abdominal examination. 2. In those patients with peritonitis, hemodynamics, and metabolism are characterized by hyperdynamic circulation, premature arterial hypotension with dry warm skin, and lactate accumulation. 3. Laboratory data often reveal thrombocytemia, leucocytosis with shift to the left, and a relative and absolute hypophosphatemia.