Roentgenographic Evaluation of Experimental Intraperitoneal Abscess

Abstract

DIAGNOSIS of intraperitoneal abscesses remains difficult. Almost any intra-abdominal procedure may result postoperatively in these circumscribed collections of pus. Delay in their diagnosis and surgical therapy contributes significantly to their morbidity and mortality.¹ To study new early diagnostic techniques, it is necessary to have a standardized experimental model of localized intraperitoneal sepsis which can be evaluated periodically without laparotomy. This paper describes a method for producing standardized intraperitoneal abscess in the rat. The incorporation of barium sulfate in the inducing material allows for radiological visualization of the development and evolution of the abscess wall. Methods All studies were done on male Sprague Dawley rats weighing 350 to 450 gm, fed regular chow and water, ad lib. On the morning of the experiment, 50 gm of fresh rat feces were mixed with 10 gm of barium sulfate powder and 10 ml of isotonic saline. This material was homogenized and