The intra-abdominal dead space and abscess formation
Scanlon, E.F.
Surgery Gynecology and Obstetrics 146(5): 789
1978
ISSN/ISBN: 0039-6087 PMID: 644438 Document Number: 125904
Recent work suggested that many intraabdominal abscesses are the result of an infection developing in a pre-existing collection of blood or serum. Obvious causes of the collection are bleeding and residual necrotic tissue. Less often considered, but perhaps a more common cause, is the surgically created dead space. Examples of this are seen especially when tissue is resected at the periphery of the peritoneal cavity. In any resection at the periphery of the abdominal cavity, the question of what will fill the resultant defect should be considered. Fluid replaces air and pus replaces fluid.