[Drainage and lavage in abdominal surgery: bacteriologic aspects].

The efficiency of draining a purulent collection in the thoracic or abdominal cavity is well known. The actuel knowledge about opsonisation and phagocytosis of pathogenic bacterias offer a new and attractive explanation for this phenomenon. The prophylactic drainage of an uninfected cavity on the other hand has the advantage of eliminating blood and other materials promoting infection. However, the drainage has the inherent risk of a foreign body, obstruction and introduction of an artificial fistula. Therefore it should be inserted for a period as short as possible.