Hydrogen peroxide vs normal saline lavage in experimental fecal peritonitis

ABSTRACT

The authors compared survival in experimental fecal peritonitis between rats undergoing lavage with a dilute solution of hydrogen peroxide and animals treated with normal saline. Using a rat model of human fecal peritonitis, they compared surgical peritoneal lavage With the two test solutions and a control group not subjected to. lavage. Two trials compared different strengths of peroxide antiseptic solutions. Five or eight animals were used in each test group. In both trials, more rats survived that had lavage with normal saline than those treated with peroxide or those in the control group. Hydrogen peroxide appears to have significantly greater toxicity than benefit in this model of fecal peritonitis. In fact, survival in the control group Was not statistically different from that in the peroxide treatment group.