Mechanical bowel preparation before gynecologic laparoscopy: a randomized, single-blind, controlled trial

Objective: To evaluate the use of mechanical bowel preparation (MBP) before gynecologic laparoscopy, using as the primary endpoint the appropriateness of the surgical field as judged by the surgeon. Design: Prospective, randomized, single-blind clinical trial. Setting: Academic department specializing in gynecologic surgery. Patient(s): One-hundred sixty-two patients scheduled for laparoscopy. Intervention(s): The evening before laparoscopy, patients were randomized to either MBP with 90 mL of oral sodium phosphate (NaP) or no bowel preparation. Main Outcome Measure(s): Patient discomfort was evaluated with a visual analogue scale. Bowel preparation was evaluated by a surgeon (blind to bowel-preparation status) using a 5-point scale. Surgical difficulty, operating times, and postoperative complications were recorded. Result(s): Preoperative discomfort was significantly greater in the MBP group. No significant difference in the evaluation of the surgical field, operative difficulty, operative time, and postoperative complications was present between the two groups. Conclusion(s): Bowel preparation with oral NaP does not offer any significant advantage in patients undergoing laparoscopy for benign gynecologic conditions. In addition, MBP significantly increases preoperative discomfort.