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Are enemas given before abdominal operations useful? A prospective randomised trail
1Department of Surgery, University Hospital (CHUV), Lausanne, Switzerland.
The European Journal of Surgery = Acta Chirurgica
|August 11, 1998
Summary
Preoperative enemas do not improve, but rather delay, the return of normal bowel function after non-colonic abdominal surgery. This practice should be discontinued to enhance patient recovery.
Area of Science:
- Gastroenterology
- Surgical Patient Recovery
- Clinical Trials
Background:
- The routine use of preoperative enemas in abdominal surgery is common practice.
- Evidence supporting the benefit of enemas on postoperative recovery is limited.
- Assessing the impact of enemas on peristalsis is crucial for optimizing surgical care.
Purpose of the Study:
- To evaluate the effect of preoperative enemas on the recovery of peristalsis following non-colonic abdominal operations.
- To determine if intestinal preparation with enemas influences the time to return of bowel function.
Main Methods:
- A prospective randomized trial was conducted at a university hospital.
- 116 adult patients undergoing elective non-colonic abdominal surgery were randomized into two groups.
- One group received a water and glycerine enema preoperatively; the control group received no intestinal preparation.
Main Results:
- 106 patients completed the study.
- Patients who did not receive a preoperative enema showed a significantly earlier return of bowel sounds (p=0.02).
- The time to the first spontaneous bowel movement was also significantly shorter in the group without enemas (p=0.01).
Conclusions:
- Preoperative enemas are associated with a delay in the return of normal peristalsis after non-colonic abdominal surgery.
- No patient subgroup demonstrated a benefit from receiving a preoperative enema.
- The study recommends abandoning the practice of preoperative enemas to improve postoperative recovery.