Preoperative mechanical bowel preparation increased wound infection compared to no preparation (24% vs 12%, P<0.05) in patients undergoing elective colorectal surgery.
RCT (n=149)
randomly allocated
Does preoperative mechanical bowel preparation reduce wound infection and anastomotic dehiscence in patients undergoing elective colorectal surgery?
Mechanical bowel preparation prior to elective colorectal surgery is unnecessary and may increase the risk of wound infection.
Absolute Event Rate: 24% vs 12%
p-value: p=<0.05
A total of 149 patients admitted for elective colorectal surgery were randomly allocated to receive preoperative mechanical bowel preparation (group 1) or no mechanical bowel preparation (group 2). All patients received antimicrobial prophylaxis with cephalothin and metronidazole. The overall incidence of wound infection was 17.4 per cent (24 per cent for group 1, 12 per cent for group 2) and that of dehiscence 7.4 per cent (10 per cent for group 1, 5 per cent for group 2). The incidence of wound infection was significantly higher in group 1 (P < 0.05) but that of anastomotic dehiscence did not differ significantly between groups. Mechanical bowel preparation is unnecessary and may be harmful in terms of preventing wound infection and anastomotic dehiscence in patients undergoing elective colorectal surgery.
Santos et al. (Tue,) conducted a rct in elective colorectal surgery (n=149). Preoperative mechanical bowel preparation vs. No mechanical bowel preparation was evaluated on Wound infection (p=<0.05). Preoperative mechanical bowel preparation increased wound infection compared to no preparation (24% vs 12%, P<0.05) in patients undergoing elective colorectal surgery.