title: Mechanical bowel preparation for children undergoing elective colorectal surgery.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  Adult literature supports the elimination of mechanical bowel preparation (MBP) for elective colorectal surgical procedures. Prospective data for the pediatric population regarding the utility of MBP are lacking. The primary aim of this study was to compare infectious complications, specifically anastomotic leak, intraabdominal abscess, and wound infection in patients who received MBP with those who did not.
  
  
  METHODS
  A randomized pilot study comparing MBP with polyethylene glycol with no MBP was performed. Patients, 0 to 21 years old, undergoing elective colorectal surgery were eligible and randomized within 4 age strata. Statistical analyses were performed using χ or Fisher exact test for categorical data and t test or Wilcoxon 2-sample test for continuous data.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Forty-four patients were enrolled in the study from December 2010 to February 2013, of which 24 (55%) received MBP and 20 (45%) did not. Two patients (5%) had anastomotic leak, 4 (9%) had intraabdominal infection, and 7 (16%) had wound infections. The rate of anastomotic leak, intraabdominal abscess, and wound infection did not differ between the 2 groups.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  MBP for elective colorectal surgery in children does not affect the incidence of infectious complications. A larger multiinstitutional study is necessary to validate the results of this single-institution pilot study.
authors.affiliation: *Division of Pediatric Surgery, Department of Surgery, Ohio State University College of Medicine †Department of Biostatistics, Nationwide Children's Hospital, Columbus, OH.
authors.forename: Jennifer H
authors.initials: JH
authors.lastname: Aldrink
authors.forename: Cindy
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: McManaway
authors.forename: Wei
authors.initials: W
authors.lastname: Wang
authors.forename: Benedict C
authors.initials: BC
authors.lastname: Nwomeh
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D057868:Anastomotic Leak / Q000453:epidemiology; D002648:Child; D002675:Child, Preschool; D003107:Colorectal Surgery; D017558:Elective Surgical Procedures; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007223:Infant; D007239:Infections / Q000453:epidemiology; D007420:Intestine, Large / Q000601:surgery*; D008297:Male; D010372:Pediatrics; D010865:Pilot Projects; D011092:Polyethylene Glycols; D011183:Postoperative Complications / Q000453:epidemiology; D011300:Preoperative Care / Q000379:methods*; D015995:Prevalence; D011446:Prospective Studies; D014946:Wound Infection / Q000453:epidemiology; D055815:Young Adult
chemical_list: D011092:Polyethylene Glycols
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