Coffee administration to promote return of bowel function after small bowel resection: A randomized, controlled trial.

Holland C, Shaffer L, Dobkin E, Hall J.

Am J Surg 2023;  226: 156-160.

Coffee given postoperatively reduced the time to nasogastric tube removal following small bowel resection from 4 to 3.4 days (P=0.002) in this study that included 79 patients.

Comment: Very small study of dubious value and a questionable end point (how many surgeons still use a nasogastric tube routinely?) But who doesn’t benefit from a cup of coffee!