Initial improvement in the quality of surgical field was gained with mechanical bowel preparation (MBP) with oral magnesium prior to minimally invasive pelvic surgery; however, this benefit was not sustained, a recent study found. The single-blind, randomized controlled trial compared MBP using oral magnesium citrate with sodium phosphate enema to sodium phosphate (NaP) alone during minimally invasive pelvic reconstructive surgery. Researchers found:

• 153 participants were enrolled; 148 completed the study (n=71 MBP; n=77 NaP).
• Completion of assigned bowel preparation was similar between MBP (97.2%) and NaP (97.4%).
• The MBP group reported more overall discomfort and negative preoperative side effects.
• Quality of surgical field at initial port placement was excellent/good in 80.0% of the MBP group vs 62.3% in the NaP group; however, this difference was not maintained by the conclusion of surgery.
• At 2 weeks postoperatively, both groups reported a median time for return of bowel function of 3.0 days.