Preoperative Bowel Preparation: Surgical Standard or Past?

Preoperative bowel preparation: surgical standard or past?

BACKGROUND Preoperative bowel preparation is still routinely used prior to colorectal surgery. This concept is based on traditional and personal empiricism and usually not evidence based. The objective of the present review was to reassess this dogma against the background of the highest level of evidence published thus far. METHODS The Medline database was searched using the search terms 'pr...

Efficacy of preoperative bowel preparation at home.

A preliminary study was designed to determine whether preoperative bowel preparation for colorectal surgery could be performed safely at home. Medical charts of 62 patients covering 4 years of elective major colorectal surgery done by a single general surgeon were retrospectively reviewed. Patients were divided into four groups, depending on the year in which they had surgery. Each patient had ...

Should preoperative mechanical bowel preparation be abandoned?

Visibility of Surgical Site Marking After Preoperative Skin Preparation

OBJECTIVE It is important that during preoperative skin preparation surgical site markings are not erased. The effects of 2 common types of skin preparation solutions on surgical site markings were compared. METHODS Fasciocutaneous skin flaps were harvested and 20 random combinations of 3 letters were written on the skin flaps with a black permanent marker. Ten of the 3-letter combinations re...

Amputation: preoperative psychological preparation.

More than 90 percent of all amputations are now due to the complications of chronic disease. Because most amputations can be anticipated, the preoperative period allows the opportunity for psychological preparation of the patient. This article highlights the important contribution family physicians can make before patients undergo amputation. Common patient reactions before and after amputation...