Intraperitoneal drainage techniques in acute diffuse peritonitis ZHU Wei-ming. Department of General Surgery, Nanjing General Hospital of Nanjing Military Command, Nanjing 210002, China Abstract The essential steps in the management of acute diffuse peritonitis are source control and damage control. Source control comprises of elimination of contamination and control of ongoing contamination by mechanical debridement and drainage. Control of ongoing contamination can be achieved by open, laparoscopic and guided drainage. Effect of open drainage is the best. The open drainage includes single laparotomy, relaparotomy and open packing. Adequate elimination of septic source and minimal damage to the viscera and the body system are essential when any open drainage was performed.