[Laparotomy in HIV-infected patients. Indications, results apropos of 104 operated patients].

From May 1st 1983 to March 1st 1991, 126 laparotomies were performed on 104 patients infected by human immunodeficiency virus (HIV). We report the operative indications, macroscopic findings, anatomopathologic and microbiological results, and hospital mortality in this population. In 12.5% of cases, infection by HIV was established after operation. Sixty-eight percent of patients presented criteria for AIDS. The population was divided into 4 groups of indications: Group I: 30 patients had an emergency exploratory laparotomy. Laparotomy provided a diagnosis in 80% of cases, with a hospital mortality in 66%. Group II: 45 patients had an emergency laparotomy with a preoperative diagnosis. Hospital mortality was 24.4%. Group III: 29 patients had a non-urgent laparotomy with no mortality. Group IV: 14 patients were reoperated (22 laparotomies). For the entire population, hospital mortality was 9.3% for seropositive patients and 38.8% for AIDS patients.