Could skipping bowel prep before colon surgery be just as safe?
NCT ID NCT04931173
First seen Jun 27, 2026 · Last updated Jun 27, 2026
Summary
This study looks at whether it's safe to skip mechanical bowel preparation (the drink that cleans out your colon) before colon surgery. Currently, the best practice combines that drink with antibiotics to prevent infections. The trial will compare two groups: one getting the drink plus antibiotics, and one getting only antibiotics. If the antibiotic-only group has the same low infection rate, patients could avoid the discomfort of bowel prep.
What this could mean
Our plain-language read of the trial. This is informational only — not medical advice or a prediction.
Active substance
mechanical bowel preparation (MBP) and oral antibiotics (OA) plus intravenous antibiotics (IVA)
What this could lead to
If skipping mechanical bowel prep works as well as using it, patients could avoid uncomfortable side effects before colon surgery.
What could go wrong
This is a non-inferiority trial, so it may show that skipping bowel prep leads to more infections. Results may not apply to all patients or surgeries.
Disclaimer
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the original study
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Summaries may miss details or leave out important information. Before applying or accepting participation, make sure you have read and understood the full study. Curemydisease.com takes no responsibility whatsoever for anything missed, misunderstood, or acted upon as a result of our summary — we know it does not capture everything.
This is a summary of the original study . Summaries may miss details or leave out important information. Before applying or accepting participation, make sure you have read and understood the full study. Curemydisease.com takes no responsibility whatsoever for anything missed, misunderstood, or acted upon as a result of our summary — we know it does not capture everything.
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Conditions
The condition(s) this trial relates to.
As listed by the trial registrant
The condition terms exactly as the trial's registrant entered them.
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