[Whole-gut irrigation for large bowel preparation in colorectal surgery (author's transl)]

In a controlled trial with 32 patients, whole-gut irrigation (wgi) was compared with elemental diet as a method of large-bowel preparation. Cleansing effect, caloric intake (bad taste of diet), and preparation time were significantly better in the first group (wgi). Since 1976, 203 patients have undergone wgi. Investigations concerning the effect of addition of antibiotics to the irrigant revealed optimum reduction of fecal flora with neomycin--bacitracin--clindamycin.