Background Ileus is common after elective colorectal surgery, and is associated with increased adverse events and prolonged hospital stay. The aim was to assess the role of non‐steroidal anti‐inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs) for reducing ileus after surgery. Methods A prospective multicentre cohort study was delivered by an international, student‐ and trainee‐led collaborative group. Adult patients undergoing elective colorectal resection between January and April 2018 were included. The primary outcome was time to gastrointestinal recovery, measured using a composite measure of bowel function and tolerance to oral intake. The impact of NSAIDs was explored using Cox regression analyses, including the results of a centre‐specific survey of compliance to enhanced recovery principles. Secondary safety outcomes included anastomotic leak rate and acute kidney injury. Results A total of 4164 patients were included, with a median age of 68 (i.q.r. 57–75) years (54·9 per cent men). Some 1153 (27·7 per cent) received NSAIDs on postoperative days 1–3, of whom 1061 (92·0 per cent) received non‐selective cyclo‐oxygenase inhibitors. After adjustment for baseline differences, the mean time to gastrointestinal recovery did not differ significantly between patients who received NSAIDs and those who did not (4·6 versus 4·8 days; hazard ratio 1·04, 95 per cent c.i. 0·96 to 1·12; P = 0·360). There were no significant differences in anastomotic leak rate (5·4 versus 4·6 per cent; P = 0·349) or acute kidney injury (14·3 versus 13·8 per cent; P = 0·666) between the groups. Significantly fewer patients receiving NSAIDs required strong opioid analgesia (35·3 versus 56·7 per cent; P < 0·001). Conclusion NSAIDs did not reduce the time for gastrointestinal recovery after colorectal surgery, but they were safe and associated with reduced postoperative opioid requirement.

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Until recently, entrepreneurship was associated primarily with major contours of business. With the growing accent on economic development, the term has assumed a more expanded connotation to include all efforts directed to push economic frontiers. Seen in this context, experiments to generate additional income for the rural poor must fall within the ambit of efforts to develop entrepreneurship in the countryside. This paper deals with one such experiment by a non-government organisation in one of the states in India.Harsha Kirve is a project officer with Jnana Prabodhini, Pune, and Ajit Kanitkar is on the faculty of the Institute of Rural Development, Anand.The world celebrated the International Year of the Woman in 1985, and the decade witnessed the emergence of a large number of organisations fighting for the cause of women. Scholars and researchers are increasingly drawn to women's issues; a large body of literature has developed around genderrelated themes; and a totally new discipline in social sciences, which can loosely be described as 'studies in women in development' (WID) has taken shape. Promotion of women-owned businesses, skill training for women, or formation of women's groups for easier access to credit and other inputs are some of the efforts which need to be understood and appreciated in the wider perspective of women catching up with men in various walks of life.The objective of this paper is to describe and evaluate an experiment to promote income-generating activities (IGAs) among a group of rural women. As a backdrop for our discussion, we first review the literature relating to women in business.