Randomized Clinical Trial on the Effect of Coffee on Postoperative Ileus Following Elective Colectomy

Müller SA, Rahbari NN, Schneider F, et al

Does postoperative coffee consumption reduce ileus after colonic surgery? The authors performed a randomized trial using time to first bowel movement as an endpoint in patients who were randomly assigned to drink either water or coffee beginning on the day after bowel resection. The initial bowel movement occurred after 60.4 hours in the coffee group compared with 74 hours in the water group (P= .006). However, length of stay was similar (11.3 vs 10.8 days; P = .50), as was total morbidity.

This randomized controlled trial demonstrated that postoperative coffee consumption has a beneficial impact on return of bowel function. The mechanism is unknown and could be related to caffeine, although a prior study found that decaffeinated coffee altered bowel peristalsis. Because coffee is an inexpensive, safe fluid that is tolerated in the postoperative recovery period, it can be easily added to existing "fast track" programs. However, it should be noted that despite the half-day reduction in time to first bowel movement, the complication rate and the length of stay were similar in the treated and control groups. Therefore, the overall benefit of coffee is unclear.

content aggregation:healthPrior21

source:Medscape surgery