Purpose: We investigated the relationship between the prognostic factors of postoperative peritonitis and mortality.
Methods: Data from 56 patients re-operated for postoperative secondary peritonitis in our hospital between 1991 and 2001 were collected retrospectively. Demographic features, comorbidity, malignancy, organ failure, type and timing of the primary operation, intraoperative findings, etiology of postoperative peritonitis, number of relaparotomies, source control failure, Mannheim peritonitis index (MPI), and mortality were noted. The time intervals between the first operation and relaparotomy, and between symptom onset and the second operation were also noted.
Results: The overall mortality rate was 32% (n = 18). Organ failure (p = 0.001), time elapse between symptoms and the second operation (p = 0.046), severity of peritonitis (p = 0.035), source control failure (0.047), and MPI scores (p = 0.032) were significantly related with the mortality of postoperative peritonitis in a univariate analysis. MPI score >30 had a higher mortality rate.
Conclusion: Delaying relaparotomy for more than 24 h and presence of organ failure result in higher mortality.