Aim: Although Mechanical Bowel Preparation (MBP) is considered as an integral feature of intestinal 
antisepsis before left-sided colorectal surgery, there is a lack of scientific evidence demonstrating the efficacy 
of this practice in reducing the rate of infectious complications. The aim of this study was assessment of 
safety of non MBP in elective left colon and rectal surgery. 
Methods: After exclusion of patients with obstruction or abdominoperineal resection, 62 patients with left -
sided colorectal cancer were included, and randomized into two groups. Mechanical bowel preparation was 
performed for patients in Group A (29 cases as 2 cases were excluded during the study), while those in 
Group B (31 cases) did not receive mechanical preparation. 
Results: There was no statistically significant difference comparing both groups regarding demographic 
data and anatomical presentations of the colorectal cancer. During the MBP, (Group B) patients significantly 
encountered difficulty in drinking the preparation, abdominal pain, nausea and vomiting compared with 
(Group A) patients (P=0.00). There were no statistically significant difference comparing both groups as 
regards wound infection (P=0.438), anastomotic leakage (P=0.800), reoperation (P=0.961), or length of 
hospital stay (P=0.924). 
Conclusion: Elective left-sided colorectal surgery can be performed safely without MBP.