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Meta-Analysis
. 2022 Mar;37(3):623-630.
doi: 10.1007/s00384-021-04086-3. Epub 2022 Jan 6.

The effect of coffee/caffeine on postoperative ileus following elective colorectal surgery: a meta-analysis of randomized controlled trials

Tzu-Wei Yang  1   2 , Chi-Chih Wang  1   2 , Wen-Wei Sung  1   3 , Wen-Chien Ting  1   4 , Chun-Che Lin  5   6 , Ming-Chang Tsai  7   8
Affiliations
Meta-Analysis

The effect of coffee/caffeine on postoperative ileus following elective colorectal surgery: a meta-analysis of randomized controlled trials

Tzu-Wei Yang et al. Int J Colorectal Dis. 2022 Mar.

Abstract

Purpose: Postoperative ileus (POI) is the most common complication of elective colon resection. Coffee or caffeine has been reported to be useful in improving gastrointestinal function after abdominal surgery. This study aimed to investigate the effect of coffee/caffeine on POI in patients undergoing elective colorectal surgery.

Methods: We searched Cochrane library, Embase, PubMed, and ClinicalTrials.gov (until July 2021) to identify randomized controlled trials (RCTs) evaluating the effect of coffee or caffeine on bowel movements and POI in patients undergoing elective colorectal surgery. The mean difference (MD) for continuous outcomes and risk ratio (RR) for dichotomous outcomes were calculated and are presented with 95% confidence intervals (CIs). A random effects model was used in all meta-analyses.

Results: A total of four RCTs including 312 subjects met the inclusion criteria and were included in the meta-analysis. Postoperative coffee or caffeine consumption decreased the time to first bowel movement (MD, - 10.36 h; 95% CI, - 14.61 to - 6.11), shortened the length of hospital stay (MD, - 0.95 days; 95% CI, - 1.57 to - 0.34), and was associated with a decreased risk of the use of any laxatives after the procedure (RR, 0.64; 95% CI, 0.44 to 0.92). The time to first flatus, time to tolerance of solid food, risk of any postoperative complication, postoperative reinsertion of a nasogastric (NG) tube, and anastomotic leakage showed no statistical differences between groups.

Conclusion: Postoperative coffee or caffeine consumption improved bowel movement and decreased the duration of hospital stay in patients undergoing elective colorectal surgery. This method is safe and can prevent or treat POI.

Keywords: Caffeine; Coffee; Colectomy; Colorectal surgery; Postoperative ileus.

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Conflict of interest statement

The authors declare no competing interests.

Figures

Fig. 1
Fig. 1
PRISMA study flow diagram
Fig. 2
Fig. 2
Risk of bias assessment of the included studies
Fig. 3
Fig. 3
Forrest plot of the meta-analysis of the A time to first bowel movement, B time to first flatus, and C time to tolerance of solid food
Fig. 4
Fig. 4
Forrest plot of the meta-analysis of the A length of hospital stay and B use of any laxative
See this image and copyright information in PMC

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