[Preparation of the colon for elective surgery].

Mechanical bowel preparation and antibiotic therapy have been conclusive to decrease morbi-mortality in elective colon surgery. Two methods were compared: the traditional laxative and three days solution enemas method, and the 3-6 hours total intestinal irrigation method. We evaluated the patient's acceptance, intraoperative bowel preparation, and postoperative. We included 31 patients distributed in both groups and with similar procedures. Our results showed up 80% effectiveness in colon cleaning on both methods; 100% patients accepted the irrigation method which had 6.6% postoperative mobility, the enemas method had 18.7%. Therefore, we concluded that total intestinal irrigation method is quick, safe and effective in elective colon surgery.