Appropriate Bowel Preparation for Laparotomy Gynecologic Surgery: A Prospective, Surgeon-Blinded Randomized Study.
OBJECTIVE
To compare the surgeon's satisfaction during gynecological laparotomy surgery and patient's satisfaction as well as quality of life (QOL) among 3 groups of bowel preparations: no enema vs. sodium chloride enema vs. soap-suds enema (SSE).


METHODS
Three hundred and thirty three women undergoing gynecological laparotomy surgery and without risks to bowel lumen entry between November 2014 and October 2015 were randomized to receive no enema (n = 111), sodium chloride enema (n = 111) or SSE (n = 111) for bowel preparation. Surgeons, who were blinded for the type of bowel preparation, assessed the surgical visualization and the efficacy of bowel packing. The patients' satisfaction and the QOL were also assessed on the days of admission, operation, post-operation, and discharge.


RESULTS
The patients' features of the 3 groups were well balanced. The surgeon's satisfaction was rated excellent as 56.8, 63.1 and 65.8% in the no-enema, sodium chloride and SSE groups (p = 0.830), respectively. The patients in the no-bowel-preparation group were satisfied more significantly than the other groups (p = 0.001). No significant differences in QOL were observed among the 3 groups.


CONCLUSIONS
The type of bowel preparation for exploratory gynecologic surgery did not affect the surgical visualization and the QOL of the patients.
Division of Gynecologic Oncology, Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Faculty of Medicine, Chiang Mai University, Chiang Mai, Thailand.
Wasakorn
W
Suadee
Prapaporn
P
Suprasert
D000328:Adult; D002400:Cathartics; D004733:Enema / Q000379:methods*; D005260:Female; D013509:Gynecologic Surgical Procedures / Q000379:methods*; D006801:Humans; D007813:Laparotomy; D008875:Middle Aged; D017060:Patient Satisfaction; D011300:Preoperative Care / Q000379:methods*; D011446:Prospective Studies; D011788:Quality of Life; D066231:Surgeons
D002400:Cathartics
Bowel preparation; Gynecologic surgery; Laparotomy