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 lactat e, Prepacol or polyethylene glycol (PEG). Fluid retention, cleansing e ffect, postoperative complications and subjective acceptance were docu mented. Relevant weight gain and decrease in haematocrit indicating fl uid retention were seen only after the use of Ringer's lactate. There were no significant differences in bowel cleansing. In the Prepacol gr oup the postoperative complication rate was significantly increased. P repacol was tolerated best, with few side-effects. PEG was better tole rated than Ringer's lactate, but vomiting occurred in 2 and 21 per cen t of patients respectively. PEG is most suitable for bowel preparation in patients undergoing colorectal surgery.