Vol. 9, Issue 1, Part B (2025)

Background: Mechanical bowel preparation (MBP) aims to reduce infectious complications and anastomotic dehiscence by decreasing fecal material and bacterial load in the colon, minimizing fecal spillage during surgery.

Objective: To evaluate the impact of MBP on postoperative outcomes of colostomy closure.

Patients and Methods: A prospective study was conducted on patients aged 6 months to 4 years who underwent elective colostomy closure between May 2019 and December 2020 at the Central Child Teaching Hospital of Pediatrics, Baghdad, Iraq. Data included age, gender, original diagnosis, colostomy type and site, preoperative antibiotics, hospital and postoperative length of stay, admission-to-surgery time, preoperative preparation with normal saline, and complications (wound infection, anastomotic leak, additional surgery).

Results: The study involved 55 patients, predominantly females (58.2%). Age distribution was 6-12 months (32.7%), 13-24 months (45.5%), and >25 months (21.8%). MBP was performed in 35 patients (63.6%), while 20 (36.4%) did not undergo MBP. Postoperative complications occurred in 20 patients (36.4%), including wound infection (55%), fecal fistula (15%), wound dehiscence, adhesive small bowel obstruction (10% each), incisional hernia, and bleeding (5% each).

Conclusion: Preoperative MBP had no significant impact on outcomes. Wound infection was the most common complication.