[A balanced synthetic diet (Berlamin) in colonic surgery (author's transl)]

In preparation for surgery of the colon and rectum 50 patients were fed an oral balanced synthetic diet. Additionally, antibiotics were administered. With the exception of 4 patients the bowel was completely free from faeces. During the preoperative period, averaging 5 days, no pathological laboratory findings were observed. On the 5th day of the oral diet feeding there was a total N-retention rate of +2,8 +/- 1,2 N/day.