The Impact of Surgical Bowel Prep on Surgical Wound Healing
Colorectal cancer and diverticular disease are two of the most prevalent disorders that necessitate colonic resection. Surgical resection and the creation of a healthy connection (anastomosis) are required to ensure optimal patient care from the surgery. With this surgery comes the complications of anastomotic leak (AL). Preoperative surgical bowel preparation (SBP), which includes mechanical bowel preparation (MBP) and oral antibiotics (OA), is used to lower the risk of anastomotic leak (AL), although the influence of each component on intestinal microbiota is unknown. C57BL/6J mice (n=48), fed a standard diet, were randomized to receive MBP, OA, SBP, or water for 24 hours before undergoing colon transection and anastomosis. Fecal samples were collected and sequenced for pre-op, day of surgery, four days after surgery, and seven days after surgery. Leak data was also observed based on an anastomotic healing score. The same protocols were performed on mice (n=48) under a Western diet of high-fat and high-sugar. Standard diet-fed mice treated with OA had significantly improved average AHS compared to MBP or SBP, but the same results were not seen in the Western-diet fed mice.