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Diseases of the Colon & Rectum
Published in: Diseases of the Colon & Rectum 8/2005

01-08-2005 | Original Contribution

Bowel Preparation Is Associated With Spillage of Bowel Contents in Colorectal Surgery

Authors: Ahmad Mahajna, M.D., Michael Krausz, M.D., Danny Rosin, M.D., Moshe Shabtai, M.D., Dani Hershko, M.D., Amram Ayalon, M.D., Oded Zmora, M.D.

Published in: Diseases of the Colon & Rectum | Issue 8/2005

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PURPOSE

Infectious complications pose a significant cause of morbidity in colon and rectal surgery. This study was designed to assess the effect of bowel preparation on spillage of bowel contents into the peritoneal cavity during colorectal surgery, and its potential effect on the rate of postoperative infectious complications.

METHODS

The quality of bowel preparation and the incidence of spillage of bowel contents were prospectively assessed in patients undergoing elective colon and rectal resection. The patients were followed for 30 days for postoperative infectious and noninfectious complications.

RESULTS

A total of 333 patients were included in this study, of which 181 did not receive mechanical bowel preparation. Intraoperative spillage of bowel contents occurred in 48 patients (14 percent), whereas in 285 patients (86 percent), spillage did not occur. There was a trend toward a higher rate of overall surgical infectious and noninfectious complications in patients who had spillage of bowel contents compared with patients without spillage; however, this difference was not statistically significant (18.7 vs. 11 percent, and 29 vs. 19 percent, respectively). Preoperative mechanical bowel preparation and colocolonic or colorectal anastomosis was associated with a higher rate of bowel contents spillage, although this difference did not reach statistical significance. Liquid colonic contents caused significantly higher rates of spillage.

CONCLUSIONS

Spillage of bowel contents into the peritoneal cavity during colon and rectal surgery may increase the rate of postoperative infectious complications. In addition, inadequate mechanical bowel preparation, leading to liquid bowel contents, increases the rate of intraoperative spillage.
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Metadata
Title
Bowel Preparation Is Associated With Spillage of Bowel Contents in Colorectal Surgery
Authors
Ahmad Mahajna, M.D.
Michael Krausz, M.D.
Danny Rosin, M.D.
Moshe Shabtai, M.D.
Dani Hershko, M.D.
Amram Ayalon, M.D.
Oded Zmora, M.D.
Publication date
01-08-2005
Publisher
Springer-Verlag
Published in
Diseases of the Colon & Rectum / Issue 8/2005
Print ISSN: 0012-3706
Electronic ISSN: 1530-0358
DOI
https://doi.org/10.1007/s10350-005-0073-1

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