[Antibiotic preparation of the colon or preoperative parenteral prophylaxis in colon surgery. A randomized study]

A double-blind randomised trial was carried out among 72 patients undergoing elective colorectal surgery. 37 patients received Metronidazole and Kanamycin systemically, 35 patients the same medicaments orally. We could not find any difference between the two ways of application. These results are in opposition to those of a comparable study of Birmingham, where the therapy was significantly less successful in the oral group. This fact is discussed and the parenteral, short-term prophylaxis is recommended.