Re-laparotomies and laparostomy for infection

Abstract

Remember > Chap. 12 where we discussed the principles of management of intra-abdominal infection (IAI)? We told you that in some patients, to improve survival, the performance of source and damage control must be repeated; certain patients need a re-laparotomy. In this chapter we'll discuss re-laparotomies in greater detail.Leaving the abdomen open (laparostomy),is a frequently encountered alternative to repeated laparotomy, hence it is discussed here as well (in the second part). And at the end of the chapter we present an "invited commentary" about laparoscopic abdominal re-exploration after open surgery. © Springer-Verlag Berlin Heidelberg 2005.