&NA;In the ten‐year period between 1975 and 1986, 367 patients underwent colonic resection with subsequent anastomosis using intraoperative colonic irrigation with 10 percent povidone iodine. One hundred thirty three patients underwent resection of the right or transverse colon, whereas 233 patients had left hemicolectomy with low anterior anastomosis or reanastomosis. Twenty individuals underwent emergency resection for perforation and temporary end colostomy. Nineteen of these patients returned for definitive reanastomosis as part of a two‐stage procedure. The rate of wound infection, and/or intra‐abdominal abscess formation was retrospectively reviewed and found to be completely nonexistent in these patients. This study examines the various techniques used to reduce the rate of wound infection after colonic surgery and addresses the concept of intraoperative povidone iodine irrigation.