Intra-operative saline irrigation of the peritoneal cavity in experimental post-traumatic peritonitis

A trial of intra-operative saline irrigation of the peritoneal cavity for the prevention of peritonitis was conducted in an animal model. Following abdominal missile injury with intestinal perforation, 43 anaesthetized pigs were operated on an randomly assigned to three treatment groups. In two of the groups intraperitoneal irrigation with 3 litres of saline solution was performed during the operation, using a jet technique in one group. A control group of pigs received no irrigation. The effect of irrigation was evaluated with quantitative bacteriologic studies of peritoneal exudate and peritoneal biopsy specimens. Continuous anaesthesia and assisted ventilation were used and the post-trauma observation period was 3 days. The average bacterial density in the peritoneal exudate decreased by more than 99% in all treatment groups during the operation, but increased to more than the pre-irrigation level during the observation period. Irrigation did not result in significantly greater elimination of the bacterial population. The mortality was not lower in irrigated animals than in the controls. Intra-operative saline irrigation thus did not prevent peritonitis in this experimental model.