Mechanical bowel preparation for colonic resection and anastomosis.

In a series of 72 consecutive elective and emergency colectomies with primary anastomosis, all pre- and perioperative mechanical preparation of the bowel was omitted and the patient covered only by a single peroperative intravenous dose of cefuroxime and metronidazole. No anastomotic dehiscence was clinically apparent and wound infection was noted in only 8.3 per cent of patients.