Results:
A total of 38 randomised controlled trials were included in this network meta-analysis reporting on 6371 patients. Our network meta-analysis shows that prokinetics significantly reduce the duration of first gas (Mean difference (MD) (hours) – 16; credible interval - 30, - 3.1; surface under the cumulative ranking curve (SUCRA) 0.418), duration of first bowel movements (Mean difference (MD) (hours) -25; credible interval - 39, - 11; SUCRA 0.25) and duration of post-operative hospitalisation (Mean difference (MD) (hours) – 1.9; credible interval – 3.8, - 0.040; SUCRA 0.34). Opioid antagonists are the only treatment that significantly improve the duration of food recovery (Mean difference (MD) (hours) - 19; credible interval - 26, - 14; SUCRA 0.163).