title: Laparoscopic colorectal resections with and without routine mechanical bowel preparation: A comparative study.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  The benefit of mechanical bowel preparation (MBP) in patients undergoing laparoscopic colorectal resections remains a question. This study aimed to evaluate the effect of omitting MBP on patients undergoing laparoscopic bowel resections.
  
  
  METHODS
  The outcomes of patients who underwent elective colorectal resections for cancer of colon and upper rectum without MBP were compared to a retrospective cohort who had MBP.
  
  
  RESULTS
  There were 97 patients in the No-MBP group and 159 patients in the MBP group. Their mean age, operative risk, tumor size and stage of disease were similar. There were no significant differences in operative time and estimated blood loss. The anastomotic leakage rate was 1.0% in the No-MBP group and 0.6% in the MBP group, (p = 1.00). Wound infection rate were 4.1% and 3.8% in the No-MBP group and the MBP group respectively (p = 1.00). Overall surgical morbidity rate was 11.3% in the No-MBP group and 8.2% in the MBP group (p = 0.40). Conversion rates were 5.2% in the No-MBP group and 6.9% in the MBP group, (p = 0.57).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The omission of mechanical bowel preparation does not increase surgical morbidities in patients undergoing laparoscopic bowel resections. It also has no effect on operating time and conversion rate.
authors.affiliation: Division of Colorectal Surgery, Department of Surgery, The University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong.
authors.forename: Miu Yee
authors.initials: MY
authors.lastname: Chan
authors.affiliation: Division of Colorectal Surgery, Department of Surgery, The University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong.
authors.forename: Chi Chung
authors.initials: CC
authors.lastname: Foo
authors.affiliation: Division of Colorectal Surgery, Department of Surgery, The University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong.
authors.forename: Jensen Tung Chung
authors.initials: JT
authors.lastname: Poon
authors.affiliation: Division of Colorectal Surgery, Department of Surgery, The University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong.
authors.forename: Wai Lun
authors.initials: WL
authors.lastname: Law
keywords: Laparoscopic colorectal resection; No bowel preparation