Intra-abdominal rupture of pelvic abscesses

Abstract

Intra-abdominal rupture of a pelvic abscess is a serious complication of pelvic inflammatory disease but not so frequent as to indicate operative treatment of all cases of pelvic inflammatory disease. A modern method of treatment has been presented that has lowered the mortality from 90 to 12 per cent at the Johns Hopkins Hospital. Vigorous treatment of shock, antibiotic therapy, deflation of the distended stomach and bowel by the Cantor or Miller-Abbott tube are important preoperative measures. Removal of the pelvic source of infection by subtotal hysterectomy with bilateral salpingo-oophorectomy is usually the operation of choice. This should be done promptly and followed by continued therapy of the type instituted preoperatively.