title: One-day bowel preparation in children with colostomy using normal saline.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Colonic and colorectal surgery frequently requires bowel preparation. This is an evaluation of the use of normal saline for one-day bowel preparation in children with colostomy.
  
  
  METHODS
  A prospective study of 55 children with colostomy who had one-day bowel preparation for colonic and colorectal surgical procedures in a 3-year period. The information, along with clinical data was recorded on a structured proforma. Data were analysed using SPSS version 11.0.
  
  
  RESULTS
  There were 33 boys and 22 girls. The median age was 4 years (range, one month - 13 years). The primary diagnosis were as follows: Anorectal malformation, 24 (44%); Hirschsprung`s disease, 24 (44%); Faecal incontinence- post-abdominoperineal pull-through, 2 (4%); Penetrating rectal injury, 1 (2%); others, 4(8%). Intraoperative bowel luminal fluid cleanliness was assessed as clear in 36 (62%) and contaminated in 21 (38%). Overall, postoperatively, superficial surgical site infection occurred in 6 (10.9%) patients (2 had clean intraoperative colonic fluid, 5.9%.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  One-day bowel preparation using normal saline is effective and safe in children with colostomy.
authors.affiliation: Division of Paediatric Surgery, Department of Surgery, Ahmadu Bello University Teaching Hospital, Zaria, Nigeria. eaameh@yahoo.co.uk
authors.forename: Emmanuel A
authors.initials: EA
authors.lastname: Ameh
authors.forename: Christopher S
authors.initials: CS
authors.lastname: Lukong
authors.forename: Philip M
authors.initials: PM
authors.lastname: Mshelbwala
authors.forename: Mark A
authors.initials: MA
authors.lastname: Anumah
authors.forename: Alexander
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Gomna
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D002400:Cathartics / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D002648:Child; D002675:Child, Preschool; D003106:Colon; D003125:Colostomy; D013505:Digestive System Surgical Procedures / Q000379:methods*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007223:Infant; D008297:Male; D011300:Preoperative Care / Q000379:methods*; D011446:Prospective Studies; D012965:Sodium Chloride / Q000627:therapeutic use*
chemical_list: D002400:Cathartics; D012965:Sodium Chloride