Mechanical bowel preparation reduces anastomotic leaks in surgery

A systematic review and meta-analysis of 11 studies revealed that pre-operative mechanical bowel preparation significantly reduces the rate of anastomotic leaks in adult patients undergoing elective restorative colorectal surgery. The analysis included a diverse participant pool with a mean age of 62.98 years, primarily featuring individuals with colorectal carcinoma. While it effectively shortened hospital stays, the preparation did not notably influence other clinical outcomes, such as surgical site infections or mortality rates.