The effect of postoperative peritoneal lavage on survival, peritoneal wound healing and adhesion formation has been studied in rats both with and without fecal peritonitis. Peritoneal lavage with both Hartmann's solution and noxytiolin through an indwelling peritoneal cannula resulted in a delay in peritoneal wound healing in the absence of fecal peritonitis. There was also an increase in the incidence of adhesions. Induction of a fecal peritonitis followed by operation 2½–3 hours later resulted in 100 per cent mortality within 24 hours. This mortality was reduced by 66 per cent following peritoneal lavage with Hartmann's solution alone, although this resulted in a delay in peritoneal wound healing. Peritoneal lavage with noxytiolin did not reduce the mortality rate.