Colonic surgery is still relatively lethal and there is a morbidity related to the breakdown of sutures which seems linked to the quality of the colonic preparation. Although everyone agrees today that this preparation is necessary, the choice of the procedure remains debated. High flow rate digestive irrigation with a solution of 10% mannitol presents numerous advantages compared with standard preparations. It definitely ensures better emptying of the colon; its role on the colonic flora is variable, minor and transient, which raises the problem of complementary antibiotic therapy. The encouraging results with regard to septic post-operative complications should lead one to extend the indications and to undertake random studies after definition of strict criteria of comparison on large series to find the procedure best adapted to each situation.