Postoperative ileus is common after colorectal surgery, and has a huge impact on hospital
LOS. With the impeding cost crisis in the United States, safely reducing length of
stay is essential. Chewing gum and pharmacological treatment with alvimopan are safe,
simple tools to reduce postoperative ileus and its associated costs. Future research
will determine if integrating these tools with laparoscopic procedures and enhanced
recovery pathways is a best practice in colorectal surgery.
Keywords
postoperative ileus - alvimopan - chewing gum - health care utilization - enhanced
recovery pathways