Overview
This prospective randomized pilot study will evaluate whether the use of an oral laxative before elective laparoscopic colorectal surgery affects small-bowel diameter and intraoperative surgical difficulty. Adult patients scheduled for elective laparoscopic colorectal resection will be randomly assigned to receive either oral laxative plus rectal enema preparation or rectal enema preparation alone. During surgery, the diameters of the jejunum and ileum will be measured using a standardized method. The study will also compare operative difficulty, bowel manipulation time, operation duration, need for additional ports, conversion to open surgery, intraoperative complications, blood loss, and early postoperative outcomes between the two groups. The findings may help clarify whether oral laxative use influences intraoperative conditions during laparoscopic colorectal surgery.
Description
Mechanical bowel preparation is commonly used before elective colorectal surgery. Although its effects on postoperative outcomes have been widely investigated, limited evidence is available regarding the effect of oral laxatives on intraoperative small-bowel distension and technical difficulty during laparoscopic colorectal surgery. Increased intraluminal fluid following oral laxative administration may lead to small-bowel distension, potentially impairing surgical exposure and increasing the need for bowel manipulation.
In this study, small-bowel diameter will be assessed intraoperatively using a standardized measurement method after laparoscopic access and establishment of pneumoperitoneum. Jejunal diameter will be measured approximately 50 cm distal to the ligament of Treitz, and ileal diameter approximately 20 cm proximal to the ileocecal valve. Measurements will be performed in the transverse plane without applying mesenteric tension and, when feasible, the mean of two measurements will be recorded. At the end of the operation, the operating surgeon will assess overall operative difficulty using a Likert-type scale ranging from very easy to very difficult. This pilot study is intended to provide preliminary evidence for the design of future adequately powered studies and to support the evaluation of current bowel-preparation practices.
Eligibility
Inclusion Criteria:
- Age 18 years or older
- Scheduled for elective laparoscopic colorectal resection
- American Society of Anesthesiologists (ASA) physical status I-III
- Able and willing to provide written informed consent
Exclusion Criteria:
- Requirement for emergency surgery
- Mechanical intestinal obstruction, gastrointestinal perforation, or generalized peritonitis
- Anticipated extensive intra-abdominal adhesions
- Active inflammatory bowel disease
- Pregnancy
- Serious systemic disease constituting a contraindication to oral laxative use
- Inability to perform standardized intraoperative small-bowel diameter measurements
