[The syndrome of the fifth postoperative day after appendicectomy (author's transl)].

41 children were subjected to re-laparotomy because of obstruction after appendectomy. The causes were entero-colitis, occlusive ileus, rupture of the bowel and suture insufficiency. In this paper we report 6 children who had none of these complications. In these 6 children a "5-day syndrome" consisted usually of a fatal outcome with severe general peritonitis without a leakage of the appendix stump. Infection caused the endogenous spread of Bacteroides, following paralytic ileus and septicaemia. Early therapy with antibiotics and eventual re-laparotomy is then necessary.