Abstract: Objective To compared the early outcomes of patients undergoing elective surgeries for colon cancer with and
without preoperative mechanical bowel preparation. Methods Between July, 2014 and February, 2016, patients undergoing
elective surgery for colon cancer with primary anastomosis were randomly assigned into control group with mechanical bowel
preparation 12 h before surgery and treatment group without mechanical bowel preparation. Baseline data collection was
completed within 12 h after the operation. The levels of hemoglobin, total protein, albumin, prealbumin and albumin/globulin
ratio of the patients were recorded at 1 day before surgery and 1 day and 5 days after the surgery. The patients were followed
up till 30 days after the surgeries and the complications were recorded. Results Seventy-six patients were assigned in the
treatment group and 72 in the control group. Significant differences were found in the incidence of wound infection and
intra-abdominal infection (P<0.05) but not in that of anastomotic leakage or early postoperative bowel obstruction (P>0.05)
between the two 2 groups. The first flatus time (P=0.03) and prealbumin level on the first postoperative day (P=0.03) differed
significantly between the two groups, but the operation time was similar between them (P=0.06). Conclusion In patients
undergoing elective surgeries for colon cancer, preoperative mechanical bowel preparation is associated with increased
postoperative complications, delayed recovery of intestinal motility and poorer nutrition status early after the operation.