[Preparation of intestines]

[Orthograde intestinal irrigation or Fordtran solution for bowel preparation in elective colorectal surgery. Prospective outcome study]

In a prospective cohort study, which was carried out at the department for abdominal surgery of the university of Mainz from June to December 1993, two methods of bowel preparation for elective colorectal surgery were compared: oral bowel preparation with Fordtran a new polyethylene glycol solution (63 patients), and whole-gut lavage with Ringer's solution (37 patients). The serum chloride levels and the bodyweight increased significantly more in the whole-gut lavage group. These patients also showed a higher frequency of vomiting during bowel preparation. Neither the bowel cleansing effect nor the postoperative complications differed significantly between the two groups. Owing to these results, the better patient acceptance, and the easier handling and lower costs of PEG solution, we recommend this method of preoperative bowel preparation for elective colorectal surgery.

Prospective randomized study of preoperative bowel cleansing for patients undergoing colorectal surgery

Three different methods of preoperative bowel preparation were tested in a prospective randomized trial examining efficacy and morbidity. In all, 163 patients were treated by gut irrigation with Ringer's lactate, Prepacol or polyethylene glycol (PEG). Fluid retention, cleansing effect, postoperative complications and subjective acceptance were documented. Relevant weight gain and decrease in haematocrit indicating fluid retention were seen only after the use of Ringer's lactate. There were no significant differences in bowel cleansing. In the Prepacol group the postoperative complication rate was significantly increased. Prepacol was tolerated best, with few side-effects. PEG was better tolerated than Ringer's lactate, but vomiting occurred in 2 and 21 per cent of patients respectively. PEG is most suitable for bowel preparation in patients undergoing colorectal surgery.