The significance of catheter diameter in diagnostic peritoneal lavage: a prospective, randomized, controlled clinical trial

BACKGROUND: Diagnostic peritoneal lavage (DPL) is a preferred diagnostic approach for patients with abdominal trauma. The aim of this article is to determine the effect of catheter diameter on procedure time and on the incidence of liquid transfer complications in patients with abdominal trauma. METHODS (Study Design): Sixty-eight patients (49 males, 19 females; age range, 16–82 years; mean age, 32.4 years) with abdominal trauma were prospectively randomized to undergo standard catheter (3 mm) open, wide catheter (5 mm) open, standard semi-open, or wide catheter semi-open DPL. Mean DPL, surgical procedure and liquid transfer time and complication ratio were compared. RESULTS: Total DPL duration was significantly shorter for the wide catheter open technique than for the standard open technique (19 vs. 28.5 min, p < 0.01). Total surgical procedure duration for the wide catheter semi-open technique was also significantly shorter than for the standard semi-open technique (10.25 vs. 18 min, p < 0.01). There were two liquid transfer complications with the wide catheter open method, compared with five for the standard open technique, and one and six, respectively, for the wide catheter semi-open and standard semi-open techniques (p < 0.01). CONCLUSIONS: Increasing the catheter diameter from 3 mm to 5 mm for open and semi-open DPL procedures decreased the total surgical procedure duration and reduced the incidence of liquid transfer-induced complications.