[Mechanical preparation of the colon with sodium picosulfate]

We tested the laxative sodium picosulfate for mechanical bowel preparation in elective colorectal surgery. The quality of this preparation was assessed on a visual analog scale on 277 patients who were then followed prospectively for wound and intraabdominal infectious complications for 42 days. Picosulfate preparation resulted in a complication rate similar to whole gut irrigation but was more acceptable for the patients and the nurses.