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dc.date.accessioned2016-04-14T12:36:23Z-
dc.date.available2016-04-14T12:36:23Z-
dc.date.issued2013-
dc.identifier.urihttps://www.um.edu.mt/library/oar//handle/123456789/9505-
dc.descriptionB.SC.(HONS)HEALTH SCIENCEen_GB
dc.description.abstractThe use of Mechanical Bowel Preparation (MBP) in patients undergoing elective bowel surgery has been a traditionally held practice within the surgical domain in an attempt to reduce postoperative complications, mainly anastomotic leaks and postoperative infections. However, the surgical dogma surrounding the use of MBP started to be challenged by results coming up from research on emergency colon surgeries, which did not require the use of MBP (Zmora et al., 2003). In view of this emerging debate, the current investigation aimed to determine whether MBP does, in fact, reduce anastomotic leaks and postoperative infections following colon surgery using an evidence-based approach. As a result, the PICO question: In adult patients undergoing elective colon and rectal surgery, how does mechanical bowel preparation compared to no bowel preparation compare in reducing the risk of postoperative infections and anastomotic leaks?, was set. A search strategy, using the University of Malta e-library portal, has led to the identification of 7 meta-analyses, 3 systematic reviews, 8 RCTs and a prospective observational (cohort) study. Guiding this process, to minimize selection bias, was the use of established eligibility criteria, to include studies comparing the measured outcomes set for this investigation following the exposure of the mentioned intervention. Several combinations of relevant keywords were used to identify the 19 suitable research studies, retained for this investigation. These studies were appraised using the Critical Appraisal Skills Programme (CASP) tools for RCTs, systematic reviews and cohort studies, while the AMSTAR tool was used to appraise the meta-analyses. Results failed to show any statistical significant difference in reducing the risk of postoperative infections and anastomotic leaks between the two interventions (i.e. MBP and no MBP), thus leading to the conclusion that MBP is an unnecessary procedure prior to bowel surgery. This investigation recommends further larger research studies to confirm such conclusions and to expose these results to local stakeholders so that the suggested change in clinical practice is achieved for the benefit of our patients and of the local health care setting.en_GB
dc.language.isoenen_GB
dc.rightsinfo:eu-repo/semantics/restrictedAccessen_GB
dc.subjectAnastomotic leaksen_GB
dc.subjectSurgical wound infectionsen_GB
dc.subjectBowel surgeryen_GB
dc.subjectColorectal surgeryen_GB
dc.titlePre-operative mechanical bowel preparation : an unnecessary procedureen_GB
dc.typebachelorThesisen_GB
dc.rights.holderThe copyright of this work belongs to the author(s)/publisher. The rights of this work are as defined by the appropriate Copyright Legislation or as modified by any successive legislation. Users may access this work and can make use of the information contained in accordance with the Copyright Legislation provided that the author must be properly acknowledged. Further distribution or reproduction in any format is prohibited without the prior permission of the copyright holder.en_GB
dc.publisher.institutionUniversity of Maltaen_GB
dc.publisher.departmentFaculty of Health Sciences. Department of Nursingen_GB
dc.description.reviewedN/Aen_GB
dc.contributor.creatorCamilleri, Caroline-
Appears in Collections:Dissertations - FacHSc - 2013
Dissertations - FacHScNur - 2013

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