[Whole bowel irrigation as preparation for colorectal surgery]

One hundred consecutive patients underwent a whole gut irrigation as preoperative care for surgery of the large intestine. The solution used was balanced for isotonicity with mineral salts and polyethylene glycol. The procedure was quite well tolerated by the patients, also by the elderly. Only slight changes in body weight or in serum ionic concentrations were noted. In 88% of the patients the preparation was considered to be good or excellent by the operating surgeon. There was a tendency for low rate postoperative infections.