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Preoperative Care

Preparation for colon surgery begins a few days prior to the procedure. Most patients have already undergone a colonoscopy or barium enema two tests used to diagnose colon disease. Blood tests, a chest x-ray, an EKG and an abdominal CT scan may be ordered.

The colon contains bacteria and waste products that can cause infection if they leak into the abdomen during surgery. Therefore, a number of precautions are taken to reduce this risk.

First, oral antibiotics may ...Read the full article