Peritoneal lavage as an aid in the surgical management of neutropenic colitis.

Neutropenic colitis is a severe, often devastating complication of acute leukemia. The diagnosis can be difficult as the symptoms are often those of the leukemia itself or of the therapy being rendered. These anemic, thrombocytopenic, and severely immunosuppressed patients present great operative risks. Distinction between the surgical and nonsurgical abdomen can be a challenge for even the most experienced surgeon. Peritoneal lavage may serve as a means to help in this differentiation.