Underestimated frequency: Post-operative intraabdominal infections usually
appear as abscesses or injury of the bowel, either alone or in combination.
These complications of frequently underestimated frequency are characteriz
ed by high mortality. Improvement of their prognosis is obtained by early r
ecognition of the complication and a multidiscipiinary approach.
Alarm signs: In a patient who recently underwent abdominal surgery, the ons
et of abnormal signs must be considered as an alarm which imposes ruling ou
t intraabdominal complications. Unexplained multiple organ failure or septi
c shock in the post-operative period of intraabdominal surgery must lead to
considering explorative laparotomy.
Therapeutics: Etiologic treatment must be ideal and total from the first re
operation. Antibiotic therapy administered from the surgical reoperation mu
st be different from previous treatments. This treatment is aimed at eradic
ating enterobacteriaceae, non-fermenting Cram negative aerobes, Cram positi
ve cocci, anaerobes and fungi.