[Postoperative peritonitis at the department of general surgery of Aristide le Dantec Hospital: report of 15 cases].

Introduction: Post-operative Peritonitis (PPO) put some diagnostic and therapeutic problems to surgeons. The aim of the study was: first, to analyze the epidemiological, diagnostic, and therapeutic factors of post-operative peritonitis; then, to define a strategy to improve their prognosis.

Material and method: We did a retrospective study carried out at department of general surgery of the Aristide Le Dantec hospital from January 2001 to March 2007 on cases of PPO. Fifteen cases were included. It was about 12 men and 3 women of middle age of 38.2 years with extremes of 17 and 70 years.

Results: Clinical signs were dominated by the abdominal pain (73.3%) and the fever (66.7%). Abdominal collections were multi-microbial. The digestive suture failure was the dominant reason. All patients have been managed in the 48 hours that followed the diagnosis of PPO. The treatment consisted, essentialy in temporary digestive derivation, washing and drainage of the abdominal cavity framed by an adequate resuscitation. The recovery was 67.7%. Morbidity rate is 33.3%. Mortality concerned 5 patient (33.3%) especially carriers of 2 or 3 visceral failings. Criteria of precocious re-laparotomy have been specified.

Conclusion: The improvement of the prognosis passes indeed by a precocious diagnosis and a coherent multidisci lina a roach.