Lau 1988.

Study characteristics
Methods	Study design: Parallel‐group randomised trials Duration of trial: May 1981 to June 1987 Duration of follow‐up: 3 months Country of origin: Hong Kong
Participants	Baseline characteristics Number randomised: 140 participants Number analysed: 132 participants Intervention: MBP+oAB Number of participants [n]: 65 Age [years; mean (SD)]: 62.3 (15.7) Gender [male/female; n]: 37/28 Control: MBP Number of participants [n]: 67 Age [years, mean (SD)]: 63.5 (14.9) Gender [male/female; n]: 137/105 Inclusion criteria  "Elective colorectal surgery for carcinoma" Exclusion criteria Quote: "Inflammatory bowel disease, an existing colostomy, an active infection, a history of sensitivity to any of the antibiotics used, a history of renal insufficiency or eighth nerve dysfunction, an obstructing colonic lesion, or a history of receiving antibiotics within the 2 weeks before operation." Baseline imbalances Quote:"The randomised groups were well matched with respect to patient characteristics and surgical procedures"
Interventions	Comparison Intervention: MBP+oAB Control: MBP MBP Agent(s): bisacodyl, magnesium sulphate and saline enema Dose per administration: ‐ Time(s) of intake: 3‐day preparation Route: oral/rectal Concomitant medications: ‐ oAB Agent(s): neomycin and erythromycin Dose per administration: 1000 mg each Time(s) of intake: at 1 PM, 2 PM and 11 PM during the day before operation Route:oral Concomitant medications: ‐ Perioperative intravenous antibiotic prophylaxis Agent(s): metronidazole and gentamicin Dose per administration: 500 mg/kg/KG and 2 mg/kg/KG Time(s) of intake: over half an hour just before surgery Adherence to regimen: Quote:"3 patients were excluded due to violation of the study protocol"
Outcomes	Outcomes sought in review and reported in trial SSI Anastomotic leakage Length of hospital stay Outcomes sought but not reported in trial Mortality Postoperative complications (mild D/C I + II or severe D/C III+IV) Incidence of postoperative ileus Side effects of Intervention(s) Outcomes reported in trial but not used in review Fever of unknown origin
Notes	Source of funding: ‐ Conflicts of interest: ‐ Ethics approval: Quote: "The study was approved by the ethics boards of the participating centers" Informed consent: Quote: "After informed consent was obtained, patients were stratified into three categories" Clinical trials registration: ‐ Sample size calculation: Quote: "The initial study was projected to require 200 patients to show a statistical difference. We analysed our results statistically after inclusion of the first 202 patients"