Evidence map›Paper›PMID 40439889›Full record

SynthesisInternational journal of colorectal disease2025

Safety and efficacy of gastrointestinal motility agents following elective colorectal surgery: a systematic review and meta-analysis of randomised controlled trials.

Rathin Gosavi, Nagendra N Dudi-Venkata, Simon Xu, Mohammad Asghari-Jafarabadi, Simon Wilkins, T C Nguyen, William Teoh, Raymond Yap, Paul McMurrick, Vignesh Narasimhan

Abstract readSystematic ReviewMeta-Analysis
In one paragraph

Synthesis in International journal of colorectal disease, 2025. The graph could read no effect estimate from its abstract, so it casts no vote on the map. Cited by 3 papers.

0numbers the graph read from it
0cells of the map it votes in
3citing papers in PubMed
–field-weighted citation impact
1 · What the graph read from it

What it found

Each row is one number read from the abstract, on the scale the paper reported it, with its interval. Left of the dashed line favours the treatment, right favours the comparator. Under each row is the sentence it came from. New to these charts? A ten-minute tutorial.

The abstract states no effect estimate the extractor could read, or names no intervention and outcome on the map, so this paper lights no cell and moves no belief. It is still indexed, cited and linked below.

2 · The registry

The trial behind it

Trials whose registry record cites this paper, or whose number appears in the abstract. A trial that started after this paper was published is citing it as background, not reporting it.

Neither the registry nor the abstract names a trial number. If this is a trial report, that itself is worth knowing.

3 · Its place in the literature

Who cites it

3 citing papers in PubMed.

  1. Development and comparison of machine learning models for predicting postoperative ileus after posterior thoracolumbar fracture surgery.European spine journal : official publication of the European Spine Society, the European Spinal Deformity Society, and the European Section of the Cervical Spine Research Society · 2026
    Article
  2. Article
  3. Review
4 · The record

Corrections and comments

PubMed lists nothing against this paper. Absence here is not a guarantee, only a check that was made.

5 · Who and what money

Authors and funding

10 authors.

Rathin GosaviCabrini Monash Department of Surgery, Cabrini Health, Melbourne, Australia. rathin.gosavi@monash.edu.
Nagendra N Dudi-VenkataDepartment of Colorectal Surgery, Epworth Healthcare, Melbourne, Australia.
Simon XuDepartment of Colorectal Surgery, Dandenong Hospital, Monash Health, Melbourne, Australia.
Mohammad Asghari-JafarabadiCabrini Monash Department of Surgery, Cabrini Health, Melbourne, Australia.
Simon WilkinsCabrini Monash Department of Surgery, Cabrini Health, Melbourne, Australia.
T C NguyenDepartment of Surgery (School of Clinical Sciences at Monash Health), Monash University, Melbourne, Australia.
William TeohDepartment of Surgery (School of Clinical Sciences at Monash Health), Monash University, Melbourne, Australia.
Raymond YapCabrini Monash Department of Surgery, Cabrini Health, Melbourne, Australia.
Paul McMurrickCabrini Monash Department of Surgery, Cabrini Health, Melbourne, Australia.
Vignesh NarasimhanCabrini Monash Department of Surgery, Cabrini Health, Melbourne, Australia.

Funding

No grant is acknowledged in the PubMed record.

6 · The paper itself

Abstract

backgroundPostoperative ileus (POI) is a frequent complication after elective colorectal surgery, delaying gastrointestinal (GI) recovery and discharge. While pharmacologic agents such as laxatives and prokinetics are often included in enhanced recovery after surgery (ERAS) protocols, their efficacy and safety remain uncertain.

methodsA systematic review and meta-analysis of randomised controlled trials (RCTs) was conducted to evaluate the effect of Gastrointestinal (GI) motility agents on postoperative recovery in elective colorectal surgery. Primary outcomes included GI-2 recovery (tolerance of solid diet and stool passage), time to first defaecation, and safety endpoints. Data was pooled using random-effects models.

resultsSeven RCTs involving 849 patients were included. GI motility agents significantly accelerated GI-2 recovery (mean difference -1.01 days; 95% CI -1.29 to -0.73; p < 0.001) and reduced time to first defaecation (mean difference -1.07 days; 95% CI -1.40 to -0.73; p < 0.001). No significant differences were observed in safety outcomes, including anastomotic leak (OR 0.97; 95% CI 0.53 to 1.77), nasogastric tube reinsertion (OR 0.86; 95% CI 0.49 to 1.51), or readmission rates (OR 1.03; 95% CI 0.62 to 1.72).

conclusionMotility agents enhance postoperative GI recovery without compromising safety in patients undergoing elective colorectal surgery. Given their low cost, wide availability, and favourable safety profile, gastrointestinal motility agents may be considered for integration into ERAS protocols. However, further high-quality, standardised trials are needed to confirm their benefits across diverse surgical populations.

Indexed as

Colorectal SurgeryElective Surgical ProceduresGastrointestinal AgentsGastrointestinal MotilityRandomized Controlled Trials as TopicHumansIleusPostoperative ComplicationsPublication BiasTreatment OutcomeGastrointestinal AgentsColorectal surgeryEnhanced recoveryGI motilityLaxativesMeta-analysisPostoperative ileusProkinetics

Identifiers

PMID40439889
PMCPMC12122560

What OpenQuestion holds

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Registered trials

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Read under generation 80e0d062 · epoch 390. Bibliography from PubMed, PubMed Central and OpenAlex; grants from NIH RePORTER; trial links from ClinicalTrials.gov; estimates, votes and beliefs from the OpenQuestion graph.