[One-day bowel cleaning for colorectal surgery]

A modified one-day preoperative bowel cleaning was used in patients undergoing surgery for colorectal cancers. It was compared with traditional three-day bowel preparation, 48 patients without obstruction were randomized to two groups, with 24 each. Modified one-day method was used in experimental group, and traditional three-day method was used in control group. No significant changes were found in plasma electrolytes, hemoglobin end hematocrit in both groups. The intraoperative bowel cleaning condition were grade I in all patients. Bowel fluid culture was positive in 30% of the experimental patients, whereas in 70% of the contral patients. Wound infection occurred in one patient in both groups (4.2%). It is suggested that the modified one-day preoperative bowel preparation may alleviate the patients' suffering from diahrrea and homeostatic disturbances, ensure them in good sleep and rest, reduce the nursing work, and result in good bowel cleaning for operation. It is a simple, safe, and effective method for preoperative bowel cleaning.