Use of taurolin in the prevention of septic complications in emergency abdominal surgery

: The purpose of the study was to evaluate effectiveness of local application of Taurolin in prevention of septic complications after abdominal emergency surgery. Group A included 30 patients in whom intraoperative peritoneal lavage was performed with 0.5% solution of taurolin. In the first 12 postoperative hours peritoneal lavage was repeated through the drain. Group B included 30 patients in whom intraoperative lavage was performed with either physiologic saline or Povidon solution. All patients had suppurative peritonitis provoked by perforation of some of the abdominal organs. Intraoperatively samples of abdominal pus were taken for bacteriological analysis, while postoperatively samples were taken from drains placed abdominally and subcutaneously. Twelve hours after the surgery therapy was conducted according to the operative findings, postoperative course, x-ray and laboratory findings and results of sensitivity testing. Analysis of the results revealed significant differences in postoperative morbidity and mortality between the two groups. No fatal outcomes were recorded in the immediate postoperative course in group A where only one case of recurrent intraperitoneal infection occurred and three cases of wound infection. In group B, however, three patients died in the immediate postoperative course, recurrent intraperitoneal infection developed in four cases and wound infection in 12. Intraoperative and early postoperative local application of Taurolin in addition to appropriate surgical treatment and postoperative care has an important role in prevention of postoperative septic complications and decrease of postoperative mortality.