Combined bowel preparation significantly improves colostomy reversal outcomes.

A recent analysis of the NSQIP database identified 793 adults undergoing elective colostomy reversal. Those receiving combined oral antibiotic and mechanical bowel preparation experienced markedly reduced rates of infectious complications, anastomotic leaks, and longer hospital stays compared to other groups. Multivariate analysis indicated that this approach lowered the odds of these adverse outcomes (adjusted odds ratio: 0.52 for infections, 0.37 for leaks). These findings advocate for updated preoperative protocols to enhance surgical outcomes.