Treatment of postoperative peritonitis in the Intensive Care Unit: a retrospective study of 46 cases

We conducted a study of 46 patients admitted to the Intensive Care Unit with postoperative peritonitis. The incidence of postoperative peritonitis in this setting was 2.7%. The average age of patients was 53.3 years, with a sex ratio of 1.2. Submesocolic surgery was the most common cause of postoperative peritonitis (65.2%), mainly occurring in the colorectal region (48%). Clinical signs were dominated by fever (78%), abdominal pain (57%) and extra-abdominal signs. The mean time between symptom onset and diagnosis was 7.3 days. Reoperation was performed on the basis of clinical and biological criteria in 56.5% of cases. Therapeutic management was based on perioperative reanimation, treatment of organ dysfunctions, probabilistic antibiotic therapy and middle laparotomy. The bacteriological profile was dominated by BGN (79%). The loosening of the anastomotic sutures was the direct cause of PPO in 57% of patients. Mortality rate was 60%. The main prognostic factors were: renal failure, the number of patients with organ failure, PT<50%, the need for ventilation and the use of catecholamines.