Colon mechanical preparation is necessary as routine in medical care?

BACKGROUND The value of the preparation of the colon prior colorectal surgery remains debatable. Since installed as traditional the use of this routine, few studies have been conducted to support the safety of surgeries done without mechanical bowel preparation. AIM To determine if there is a correlation between postoperative complications and no use of mechanical bowel preparation in operated patients. METHODS Was conducted a prospective study in patients undergoing coloproctology abdominal surgery without prior bowel preparation. RESULTS The sample consisted of 126 patients, 57 men and 69 women. The average age was 54 years (19 to 89). Among patients who had comorbidities (43 patients - 34,12%), 30 (23,80%) had arterial hypertension. Antibiotic prophylaxis was used in 89,70%. Among the patients, 14,28% had complications: eight (6,34%) wound infection, six (4,76%) anastomotic dehiscence and four (3,17%) fistula. CONCLUSION The pre-operative mechanical bowel preparation is not essential in the routine of colorectal surgeries.