Prevention of infection in high risk gastrointestinal surgery

Postoperative infectious complications are a frequent cause of morbidity and mortality in the surgical patient. These septic events, which are usually confined to the surgical wound, may involve deeper structures or the bloodstream. The highest incidence of these complications in the patient undergoing elective operation occurs after gastrointestinal surgery, in which the endogenous bacterial populations are usually the causative microorganisms. The economic, physical, and psychological impact of postoperative infections mandates the use of preventive methods to decrease the incidence of such untoward events. In this clinical setting, sound surgical judgment and proper technique are most important. The use of appropriately chosen and administered prophylactic antibiotics also has proved of great benefit in many of these patients.