Effective measures identified to reduce postoperative ileus

A systematic review encompassing 37 studies and 4,647 patients reveals significant reductions in postoperative ileus with specific interventions. Notably, electro-acupuncture decreased the time to passage of first flatus by 18.33 hours, while prokinetic agents and chewing gum notably reduced time to first stool by 32.27 and 23.05 hours, respectively. These findings highlight the efficacy of non-invasive measures in enhancing recovery after gastrointestinal surgery, offering valuable insights for clinical practice.

Review by Sarmiento-Altamirano D, Arce-Jara D, Balarezo-Guerrero P and Valdivieso R in J Gastrointest Surg

Copyright © 2025. Published by Elsevier Inc.

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