Is initial (24 hours) lavage necessary in treatment of CAPD peritonitis?

A randomized trial was conducted to examine the influence of initial lavage on treatment of CAPD peritonitis. Patients with hypotension and shock were excluded from the trial. Thirty-six CAPD patients with acute peritonitis were randomized to treatment with intraperitoneal antibiotics including either initial 24 hours lavage before resumption of routine CAPD schedule (prior standard approach) or continued prolonged exchanges as in routine CAPD schedule. Median time to solved infection (normalization of white cell count in dialysis effluent) was identical (3 days) in the two groups. Treatment success rate was found to be 72% in the group with initial lavage and 89% in the group with prolonged exchanges. The difference in treatment success (17%) in favour of continued CAPD schedule was not found significant (95% confidence limits--1% to 35%). The results suggest lavage to be of no clinical benefit in treatment of CAPD peritonitis in patients without profound hypotension and shock.