Current preoperative bowel cleansing methods. Results of a survey.

A mail survey of 300 members of The American Society of Colon and Rectal Surgeons (ASCRS) was conducted to document the current methods of bowel preparation in use. Two hundred six questionnaires (69 percent) were returned. The majority of respondents (104 or 51 percent) used cathartics and enemas as the primary method of mechanical bowel cleansing. Eighty-nine (43 percent) used a PEG lavage, eight (4 percent) used mannitol, and one physician used a saline lavage method. Almost all the responding surgeons believed that their method of preparation was well tolerated by patients, provided good cleansing, and was associated with few complications. Most patients were admitted one day before surgery. All respondents used perioperative antibiotics, with the most common pattern being a combination of oral and parenteral agents. Surgeons using PEG lavage did more colonic resections per month and were fewer years out of their residency. This current pattern of preoperative bowel preparation has changed from previous surveys.