Whole-gut lavage for surgery

Abstract

During the last few years, new forms of bowel preparation before surgery and operative endoscopy have been introduced as whole gut irrigation with saline or mannitol solutions. The use of 10-20% mannitol solution is, however, likely to alter the composition and quantity of the colonic gases (methane and H2) and to produce explosive mixtures. Some cases of fatal explosions occurring during endoscopic electroresection have been reported. The whole gut lavage methods are examined and a case of colonic explosion during a left hemicolectomy on a patient prepared with 20% mannitol solution is presented.