Is mechanical bowel preparation still necessary for colonic resection and anastomosis?

ABSTRACT

In a series of 26 patients with elective and emergency colectomies with primary anastomosis, all pre- and preoperative mechanical preparation of the bowel was omitted. The patients were covered by preoperative intravenous dose of cephalexin and metronidazole. Antibiotics were continued for 5 days postoperatively. No anastomotic dehiscence was clinically apparent, and wound infection was noted in only 11.5 percent of patients