ANALYSIS OF PH, PO(2) AND PCO(2) IN DRAINAGE FLUID ALLOWS FOR RAPID DETECTION OF INFECTIOUS COMPLICATIONS DURING THE FOLLOW-UP PERIOD AFTERABDOMINAL-SURGERY

Low pH (<7.1) and pO(2) (<6.5 kPa) and high pCO(2) (>8 kPa) of periton eal fluid have been previously associated with the presence of intra-a bdominal infection. These parameters were monitored in drainage fluid following emergency laparotomy in 40 patients operated on for intra-ab dominal infections and also in 15 patients who underwent laparotomy fo r another reason than infection. Significant differences were observed beginning on the fourth postoperative day between the 48 patients who improved or were cured and the seven patients in whom therapy failed due to anastomotic breakdown or abscess formation. Anastomotic leaks o r abscesses were radiologically confirmed. In five of the seven failur es, complications were first detected by analysis of pH, pO(2) and pCO (2) before clinical symptoms became evident. Specificity for each of t hese parameters in drainage fluid samples obtained after the second po stoperative day was >94%. Assessment of the three parameters allowed f or simple, cost-effective, rapid and early detection of infectious com plications following abdominal surgery.