[Preoperative intestinal lavage with a polyethyleneglycol-containing solution. A prospective randomized study in...

Area of Science:

• Gastroenterology
• Surgical Preparation

Background:

• Preoperative bowel preparation is crucial for reducing surgical site infections and improving surgical outcomes.
• Traditional methods often involve large fluid volumes and can lead to patient discomfort and complications.

Purpose of the Study:

• To compare the efficacy and safety of a polyethylene glycol (PEG) solution versus Ringer's-lactate for preoperative bowel preparation.
• To evaluate patient compliance, fluid intake, and complication rates between the two preparation methods.

Main Methods:

• A prospective, randomized, simple-blind study involving 110 patients.
• Comparison of whole gut irrigation (Hewitt) with a PEG-based solution (Oralav) for bowel cleansing.
• Assessment of electrolytes, hemoglobin, hematocrit, nausea, vomiting, and postoperative complications.

Main Results:

• PEG group received significantly less fluid (4777 ml) compared to the Ringer's-lactate group (9663 ml).
• No significant differences in electrolyte levels or specific bowel bacterial flora were observed.
• The PEG group experienced significantly less vomiting (1.9% vs 20.8%) with similar rates of nausea and postoperative complications.

Conclusions:

• Polyethylene glycol (PEG) solution is preferred for preoperative bowel preparation due to better patient compliance, lower fluid volume requirements, and comparable cleansing efficacy.
• PEG solutions offer a safer alternative with a reduced incidence of vomiting compared to Ringer's-lactate.