Peritoneal Irritation Due to an Iodophor Antiseptic Solution

A MATERIAL COMBINING iodine and nonionic surfactants in an iodophor solution * has recently been introduced as a presurgical antiseptic which has bacteriostatic properties similar to tincture of iodine^1-4 but is supposed to lack the latter's surface irritant properties.

When tincture of iodine had been used for preparation of abdominal skin prior to laparotomy, postoperative complications of obstruction and adhesion formation had been observed clinically. These were felt to have been due to the inflammatory effect of iodine on loops of bowel which had inadvertently come in contact with the iodine on the skin.⁵ While considering the use of iodophors as routine preparatory solutions on the University of Pittsburgh Gynecology Service at Magee-Womens Hospital, a question arose as to the information concerning the peritoneal irritant qualities of this material. A search of the literature and correspondence with the manufacturer failed to supply these data, and the following brief investigation