ABSTRACT
HISTORY The concept of peritoneal lavage was first described over 250 years ago. At that time, Christopher Warrick, a surgeon, had developed a new technique of treating persistent ascites; he performed paracentesis and replaced the ‘‘ascitic lymph’’ with a solution composed of Bristol water and cohore claret (a Bordeaux wine) (1). Since this sclerosing procedure was painful to the patient, the Reverend Stephen Hales proposed the simultaneous infusion and drainage of the medicinal agent in order to produce less discomfort (2). This first description of continuous peritoneal lavage was essentially identical to the method later used for the treatment of uremia.
