The importance of the WBC count in peritoneal lavage

A subset of ten consecutive patients who had sustained penetrating and blunt abdominal trauma came to the hospital with stable vital signs. None had any clinical evidence of intraperitoneal injury. All patients underwent peritoneal lavage, and surgical exploration was performed on the basis of a 100,000/cu mm in the effluent. Substantial intraperitoneal injury was found in nine of ten patients. We suggest that as a further refinement of peritoneal lavage, in addition to RBC count, the WBC count be measured in the effluent fluid and if it is found to be greater than 500/cu mm, surgical exploration be carried out.