The Effect of Coffee Consumption after Colorectal Surgery on Bowel Movements and Duration of Hospital Stay

Abstract

Background: Postoperative ileus after colorectal surgery is a common problem that significantly prolongs hospital stay and increases perioperative costs. The ability of postoperative coffee consumptiontaken after surgery , in order to produce bowel movement, is unclear and needs to be studied. Objective: The objective of this study was to evaluate the effect of coffee consumption on bowel movements and duration of hospital stay after laparoscopic colorectal surgery on bowel. Methods: This non-randomized prospective study examined a population of patients who underwent laparoscopic colorectal surgery between November 2018 and June 2019. The study sample consisted of 51 patients, including the experimental group (25 patients who consumed , coffee-consuming) and the control group (26 patients). The first bowel sounds, the first flatulence and defecation times and duration of hospital stay were examined in this study. The study followed first bowel sounds, flatulence, defecation and duration of hospital stay. There was a statistically significant (p<0.021) difference between the experimental group and the control group, when the first flatulence (13.8 times/h) and defecation (14.8 times/h) times were examined. However, the results were not significantly different between the groups despite the earlier start of the first bowel sounds heard (2.5 times/h) and the shorter duration of hospital stay (mean 1.1/day) in the experimental group , these results were not significantly different between the groups (p>0.05). Conclusion: Postoperative Coffee consumption after surgery, is believed to be an effective, enjoyable, easy and economical method for increasing bowel movements after surgery effective, enjoyable, easy and economical and is likely to be added to rapidfast recovery protocols in the future. Further studies withon larger samples will confirm this.

Caffeine intake enhances bowel recovery after colorectal surgery: a meta-analysis of randomized and non-randomized studies

“…Six of the included studies were RCTs [ 20 – 23 , 34 , 36 ], while two studies did not use randomization [ 35 , 37 ]. Five studies originated from Europe [ 20 , 22 , 34 – 36 ], two from the Middle East [ 21 , 37 ], and one from North America [ 23 ]. In all but one study [ 34 ], patients were assigned on a single-center basis.…”

“…colorectal resection NS No caffeine citrate (100 mg)/apple-flavored water (50 ml)/3× daily Apple-flavored water (50 ml) POD 1 Abbassi et al [ 22 ] 2022 Switzerland Oct 2015–Aug 2020 Single-center, placebo-controlled, double blinded, RCT 60 (ITT)/27 (PP) Elective lap. colorectal resection NS Yes Caffeine (100/200 mg)/3× daily, dispensed into capsules with corn starch Corn starch capsules Same day of surgery Bildirici et al [ 37 ] 2022 Turkey Nov 2018–Jun 2019 Single-center, prospective, non-randomized 60 (ITT)/51 (PP) Elective lap. colorectal surgery NS NS Coffee (100 ml)/3× daily, (instant coffee) Water (100 ml) Same day of surgery Nasseri et al [ 23 ] 2023 USA Dec 2016–Jun 2021 Single-center, prospective, RCT 102 (ITT)/99 (PP) Elective minimally-invasive colorectal surgery Yes No Caffeinated coffee (116 ml)/3× daily Decaffeinated coffee 3x daily (116 ml), warm water (116 ml) POD 1 ITT intention-to-treat, NS not stated, POD postoperative day, PP per-protocol, RCT randomized controlled trial …”

“…Of note, a significant level of heterogeneity was observed (I 2 = 88%, Chi 2 test: p < 0.00001). Importantly, subgroup analysis revealed that in studies including only elective laparoscopic colorectal procedures (both right- and left-sided) [ 21 , 22 , 36 , 37 ], the results were reproducible [SMD −0.39, (95% CI −0.66 to −0.12), p = 0.005], but with a low level of heterogeneity (I 2 = 21%, Chi 2 test: p = 0.28). Thus, the source of heterogeneity was identified in the group of studies with open or non-colorectal resection procedures (I 2 = 96%, Chi 2 test: p < 0.00001) [ 23 , 34 , 35 ] (Fig.…”

“…The time of first documented flatus was reported in six studies [ 20 – 23 , 36 , 37 ] with 473 patients. Our meta-analysis showed no statistically significant difference in first postoperative flatus between the caffeine and control groups [SMD −0.07, (95% CI −0.36 to 0.22), p = 0.64].…”

“…of included studies No. of included patients SMD/OR [95% CI] P-value Heterogeneity level Caffeinated drinks Control I 2 (%) P-value Primary Time to first flatus (hours) 6 [ 20 – 23 , 36 , 37 ] 218 255 −0.07 [−0.36–0.22] 0.64 58 0.04 Secondary Additive laxative use 3 [ 34 – 36 ] 124 128 0.64 [0.38–1.06] 0.08 26 0.26 NG-tube re-insertion 6 [ 21 , 23 , 34 – 37 ] 216 244 1.15 [0.61–2.19] 0.66 17 0.30 Re-operation 4 [ 21 , 23 , 34 , 35 ] 135 159 0.42 [0.09–1.83] 0.25 0 0.69 Overall complications 6 [ 20 , …”