Laparoscopic management of acute peritonitis

The presence of peritonitis has previously been considered to be a contraindication for the laparoscopic approach because of the theoretical risk of malignant hypercapnia and toxic shock syndrome. The aim of this retrospective study was to demonstrate that laparoscopy is feasible, safe and efficient in cases of peritonitis.

From January 1990 to July 1995, 231 patients had a laparoscopy for acute peritonitis in two centres (91 appendicular peritonitis, 69 gastroduodenal perforated ulcers, 35 perforations of the colon, 36 miscellaneous).

The diagnostic accuracy of laparoscopic exploration was 84.8 per cent. The clinical preoperative diagnosis was changed by laparoscopic exploration in 25.1 per cent of patients. An unnecessary laparotomy was avoided in 6.5 per cent of patients and the site of traditional incision was modified in 8.7 per cent. Conversion rates were 25 per cent for appendicular peritonitis, 16 per cent for gastroduodenal perforation and 83 per cent (29 of 35 patients) for colonic perforation. The overall mortality rate was 3.9 per cent. No malignant hypercapnia occurred. Two patients (0.9 per cent) had postoperative septic shock but survived.

Laparoscopy is feasible and safe in cases of peritonitis. Laparoscopic treatment is particularly effective in the case of appendicular and gastroduodenal perforation. In the case of colonic perforation, the conversion rate remains high but with growing experience and surgical skill, more of these cases will be treated laparoscopically in the future.