Protein electrophoresis of diagnostic peritoneal lavage in penetrating bowel injuries.

Protein electrophoresis was performed on the lavage effluent of dogs after isolated jejunal (N = 7) or transverse colon (N = 5) injuries and after sham operations (N = 5). The beta-globulin fraction was significantly elevated in the bowel-injured dogs as compared with the sham model. Protein electrophoresis may provide a useful diagnostic marker of hollow visceral injury.