A Study on the Effects of Bowel Preparation on the Rate of Perioperative Bleeding in the Patients Undergone Lumbar Fusion Operation

This study aimed to determine the effect of bowel preparation on bleeding in spinal fusion surgery.
In this clinical trial study, 110 patients who were candidates for lumbar fusion operation were randomly divided in two groups. The first group underwent bowel preparation with solution of polyethylene glycol in water for 16 hours and 8 hours fasting and the second group underwent routine surgical preparation that was at least 8 to 12 hours of fasting. Hemoglobin level, hemorrhage volume and complications during and after the surgery were compared between the two groups.
Findings: The mean (± standard deviation) of hemorrhage volume during the surgery in the two groups of with and without bowel preparation was 780.4 ± 290.5 and 931.9 ± 475.0 ml, respectively (P = 0.046). The mean hemorrhage volume in the two groups of with and without bowel preparation was 97.3 ± 45.7 and 110.7 ± 55.6 ml (P = 0.170) during 24 hours after the surgery and 118.2 ± 74.3 and 138.6 ± 101.5 (P = 0.230) during 48 hours after surgery, respectively.
Bowel preparation in patients undergoing spine fusion surgery likely tends to reduce of complications during and after the surgery, particularly bleeding. Therefore, it is suggested in spine surgery and spinal fusion surgeries, to use with bowel preparation for patients.