Standardized irrigation technique reduces intraabdominal abscess after appendectomy
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Abstract
Purpose
The utility of irrigation at the time of appendectomy for acute appendicitis has been debated, with recent studies showing no benefit to irrigation. In our practice, two techniques have been used; one in which irrigation was at the discretion of the surgeon, and one in which irrigation was standardized. The standardized irrigation technique involved large volume (3–12 l) irrigation in small, focused, directed aliquots to achieve optimal dilution. We sought to retrospectively assess whether the standardized large volume irrigation technique was associated with measurably reduced intraabdominal infection. We hypothesized that there would be no difference in intraabdominal infection rate.
Methods
Medical records for cases of appendectomies performed for acute appendicitis, years 2007 through 2017, were reviewed (n = 432). Rate of subsequent abdominal infection was compared between patients who underwent the standardized large volume irrigation technique compared to those who did not using Fisher's exact test; p
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