In the present study we could not detect a difference in outcome parameters between patients receiving mechanical bowel preparation in elective open colon surgery and patients without preoperative treatment of the bowel. The present study, although underpowered, did not show a difference in the primary outcome of bacterial wound cultures between patients receiving preoperative mechanical bowel preparation and patients receiving no preoperative bowel treatment. We conclude that there may be no need to continue the use of mechanical bowel preparation in elective open colon surgery.

No abstract

Bowel obstruction and symptoms of intoxication are clear indications for surgery in body packing patients. In our study there was a low mortality and stoma placement rate, we did find a remarkable high amount of wound infection but no evidence for a higher incidence of fascia dehiscence in comparison with elective gastrointestinal surgery. In surgery for bodypacking a mandatory postoperative x-ray is indicated. A prospective trial is needed to assess more information about possible predictive factors of postoperative complications and mortality after surgery for body packing.

Mechanical bowel preparation is common practice in elective colon surgery. In order to verify the effect of mechanical bowel preparation on the colonic flora, this study followed 185 patients undergoing elective open colon surgery, 90 of whom were assigned randomly to receive mechanical bowel preparation with polyethyleneglycol. Swabs of the anastomosis and the subcutis were taken during surgery. Further swabs were taken of any subsequent wound infections. Mechanical bowel preparation did not reduce contamination of the peritoneal cavity or the subcutis during surgery, and there appeared to be more sterile subcutaneous swabs in the control group.

This article describes a prospective bacteriological study designed to assess the value of bacterial sampling during elective open colon surgery. Swabs of the subcutaneous tissue were taken after closure of the abdominal fascia, but before closure of the skin, in 100 patients during elective colon surgery. Of the 100 swabs, 52 were sterile with no resulting wound infection, while ten of the remaining 48 contaminated swabs were associated with a wound infection caused by colonic pathogens and nosocomial microorganisms. Bacterial sampling seems to be a useful method for the prediction of wound infection following elective colon surgery.

All symptomatic Meckel's diverticula should be resected. The surgical treatment of asymptomatic Meckel's diverticula is still controversial.

PEG does not interfere with anastomotic healing in rats as measured by BP. No benefit of a single dose of butyrate was observed.

No abstract