title: Is preoperative bowel preparation necessary for gynecological oncology surgery?
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  We investigated the necessity of preoperative bowel preparation for gynecological oncology surgery.
  
  
  METHODS
  We retrospectively reviewed the medical records of patients who underwent gynecological oncology surgery with simultaneous colon or rectal resection between April 2005 and September 2014 at the Tri-Service General Hospital, Taipei, Taiwan. Patients were divided into two groups based on whether preoperative mechanical bowel preparation (MBP) was performed. Patient characteristics, including duration of antibiotic treatment, surgical procedures, and occurrence of surgical and nonsurgical complications, were compared.
  
  
  RESULTS
  We enrolled 124 patients who underwent gynecological oncology surgery with simultaneous colon or rectal resection, of whom 76 received MBP and 48 did not receive mechanical bowel preparation. On comparison between the two groups, no significant differences were noted in the assessed patient characteristics, including mean age (p = 0.61), Federation of Gynecology and Obstetrics stage (p = 0.9), American Society of Anesthesiologists grade (p = 0.9), body mass index (p = 0.8), and residual tumor size (p = 0.86). Furthermore, duration of antibiotic treatment (p = 0.97), surgical procedures (p = 0.99), and total hospital days (p = 0.75), were not different between groups. The risk of surgical (p = 0.78) or nonsurgical (p = 1.0) complications was not significantly higher in the non-MBP group than in the MBP group.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  MBP provides no significant benefit during gynecological oncology surgery. Thus, preoperative MBP is not essential before gynecological oncology surgery and can be omitted.
authors.affiliation: Division of Colon and Rectum Surgery, Department of Surgery, Tri-Service General Hospital, Taipei, Taiwan.
authors.forename: Wei-Tin
authors.initials: WT
authors.lastname: Liu
authors.affiliation: Division of Colon and Rectum Surgery, Department of Surgery, Tri-Service General Hospital, Taipei, Taiwan.
authors.forename: Cheng-Wen
authors.initials: CW
authors.lastname: Hsiao
authors.affiliation: Division of Colon and Rectum Surgery, Department of Surgery, Tri-Service General Hospital, Taipei, Taiwan.
authors.forename: Shu-Wen
authors.initials: SW
authors.lastname: Jao
authors.affiliation: Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Tri-Service General Hospital, Taipei, Taiwan.
authors.forename: Mu-Hsien
authors.initials: MH
authors.lastname: Yu
authors.affiliation: Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Tri-Service General Hospital, Taipei, Taiwan.
authors.forename: Gwo-Jang
authors.initials: GJ
authors.lastname: Wu
authors.affiliation: Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Tri-Service General Hospital, Taipei, Taiwan.
authors.forename: Jah-Yao
authors.initials: JY
authors.lastname: Liu
authors.affiliation: Department of Nursing, Tri-Service General Hospital, Taipei, Taiwan.
authors.forename: Chiung-Chen
authors.initials: CC
authors.lastname: Liu
authors.affiliation: Department of Nursing, Taichung Armed Forces General Hospital, Taichung, Taiwan.
authors.forename: Ju-Hsuan
authors.initials: JH
authors.lastname: Chan
authors.affiliation: Division of Colon and Rectum Surgery, Department of Surgery, Tri-Service General Hospital, Taipei, Taiwan.
authors.forename: Je-Ming
authors.initials: JM
authors.lastname: Hu
authors.affiliation: Division of Colon and Rectum Surgery, Department of Surgery, Tri-Service General Hospital, Taipei, Taiwan.
authors.forename: Sheng-I
authors.initials: SI
authors.lastname: Hu
authors.affiliation: Division of Colon and Rectum Surgery, Department of Surgery, Tri-Service General Hospital, Taipei, Taiwan. Electronic address: sky1985112003@yahoo.com.tw.
authors.forename: Pi-Kai
authors.initials: PK
authors.lastname: Chang
mesh_terms: D018784:Abdominal Abscess / Q000209:etiology; D000368:Aged; D057868:Anastomotic Leak / Q000209:etiology; D000900:Anti-Bacterial Agents / Q000008:administration & dosage*; D019072:Antibiotic Prophylaxis; D003082:Colectomy / Q000009:adverse effects; D004733:Enema; D005260:Female; D005833:Genital Neoplasms, Female / Q000601:surgery*; D006801:Humans; D054368:Laxatives / Q000008:administration & dosage*; D008875:Middle Aged; D011300:Preoperative Care; D012007:Rectum / Q000601:surgery*; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D013530:Surgical Wound Infection / Q000209:etiology
chemical_list: D000900:Anti-Bacterial Agents; D054368:Laxatives
keywords: complications; gynecological oncology surgery; preoperative mechanical bowel preparation