AIM To identify the risk factors for mortality in intensive care patients with postoperative peritonitis(POP).METHODS This was a retrospective analysis using a prospective database that includes all patients hospitalized in a surgical intensive care unit for POP from September 2006 to August 2011. The data collected included demographics, comorbidities, postoperative severity parameters, bacteriological findings, adequacy of antimicrobial therapy and surgical treatments. Adequate source control was defined based on a midline laparotomy, infection source control and intraoperative peritoneal lavage. The number of reoperations needed was also recorded.RESULTS A total of 201 patients were included. The overall mortality rate was 31%. Three independent risk factors for mortality were identified: The Simplified Acute Physiological Ⅱ Score(OR = 1.03; 95%CI: 1.02-1.05, P < 0.001), postoperative medical complications(OR = 6.02; 95%CI: 1.95-18.55, P < 0.001) and the number of reoperations(OR = 2.45; 95%CI: 1.16-5.17, P = 0.015). Surgery was considered as optimal in 69% of the cases, but without any significant effect on mortality. CONCLUSION The results from the large cohort in this study emphasize the role of the initial postoperative severity parameters inthe prognosis of POP. No predefined criteria for optimal surgery were significantly associated with increased mortality, although the number of reoperations appeared as an independent risk factor of mortality. AIM To identify the risk factors for mortality in intensive care patients with postoperative peritonitis (POP) .METHODS This was a retrospective analysis using a prospective database that includes all patients hospitalized in a surgical intensive care unit for POP from September 2006 to August 2011. The data collected included demographics, comorbidities, postoperative severity parameters, bacteriological findings, adequacy of antimicrobial therapy and surgical treatments. Adequate source control was defined based on a midline laparotomy, infection source control and intraoperative peritoneal lavage. The number of reoperations needed was also recorded. The overall mortality rate was 31%. The overall mortality rate was 31%. Three independent risk factors for mortality were identified: The Simplified Acute Physiological II Score (OR = 1.03; 95% CI: 1.02-1.05, P <0.001) postoperative medical complications (OR = 6.02; 95% CI: 1.95-18.55, P <0.001) and the number of reoperations (OR = 2.45; 95% CI: 1.16-5.17, P = 0.015). Surgery was considered as optimal in 69% of the cases, but without any significant effect on mortality. CONCLUSION The results from the large cohort in this study emphasize the role of the initial postoperative severity parameters inthe prognosis of POP. No selected criteria were for optimal surgery were significantly associated with increased mortality, although the number of reoperations was considered an independent risk factor of mortality.