Assessing the role of enema in improving outcomes and complications of benign gynecological laparoscopy: a randomized clinical trial

Background: mechanical bowel preparation (MBP) is a common practice before laparoscopic gynecologic surgeries but the role and efficacy of preparation have been questioned. this study assesses visualization and bowel handling in a group of patients who receive MBP and the control group and thereafter; compares the results. Methods: We designed and conducted this randomized, single-blinded and controlled trial on patients who underwent advanced gynecologic laparoscopic surgeries. This clinical trial was carried out between July 2020 and January 2021. The patients were enrolled from l the laparoscopic office. 120 women aged 18-65 years undergoing level 2 and 3 benign gynecologic laparoscopic surgeries were randomized to bowel preparation with a normal saline enema (n=60) or non-bowel preparation (n=60) groups. Our patients underwent level 2 and 3 of benign laparoscopic gynecologic surgeries with or without MBP. The visualization and bowel handling were assessed by the primary surgical team and a questionnaire was later obtained. The outcomes included intraoperative surgical view and bowel handling, preoperative and post-operative patient signs and symptoms. The patients were also assessed in respect to discomfort prior and after the surgery, this assessment was obtained using a questionnaire. The gathered data was analyzed using IBM’s SPSS v26 software. Results: there was no difference in intraoperative visualization and bowel handling between the two groups. We also found no clinical improvements in respect to discomfort and symptoms. MBP even increased the distention rate amongst patients (P-value=0/04). We tried to evaluate whether MBP had any effects on haemorrhage and blood loss during the surgery and to assess this we compared hemoglobin levels before and after the surgery. We compared the subtracted values between the two groups and found no significant difference (T-test=1.135, P=0/259) (see table 4). However, hospitalization duration was about 5 hours longer in the group who received MBP. Conclusion: MBP with normal saline enema does not improve intraoperative visualization and bowel handling. And it also does not reduce patient complication rates and post-operative symptoms either. MBP also increases hospitalization duration and puts extra pressure on the healthcare system. Therefore, a normal saline enema is not recommended before benign gynecologic laparoscopic surgeries.