Effect of caffeine on postoperative bowel movement and defecation after cesarean section

and Importance: Inadequate bowel movement after cesarean section (C-section) can delay the intake of solid diet. Coffee is reported to have beneficial effects on bowel motility after the surgery. This study is designed to evaluate the effects of coffee on bowel movement and defecation following C-section.

In this randomized clinical trial study, women undergoing elective C-section at the hospital of (XXX) during 2019-2020 were included. Following the surgery, the patients were divided in case (coffee) and control (water) group. At three different interval after the surgery, 111 ml of coffee or water was given to these patients. After the intervention, time of bowel movement, first defecation, body mass index (BMI), age, gestational age, parity and gravidity were recorded and evaluated between the two groups.

Of total 36 patients (18 in study and control group, respectively), the mean age, gravidity, parity, BMI and gestational age was not significantly different, p-value<0.05. The mean onset of bowel movements in case group was 14.56 h and control group was 16.83 h and the first defecation after cesarean section in case and control group was 27.78 and 31.67 h, respectively. The two groups were significantly different in both the terms, p-value = 0.042 and p-value = 0.002, respectively.

The postoperative bowel movement and defecation time is shorter with the intake of coffee among patients undergoing C-section.