Does postoperative ileus exist?

In the past, it was assumed that normal feeding immediately after major abdominal surgery was impossible because normal intestinal motility was disrupted. Today, such a view is widely rejected. However, there has never been clear agreement on just what is the supposed abnormality in intestinal function. There are major difficulties in studying intestinal function after surgery. Furthermore, a number of other factors such as anesthetic agents and analgesia can influence the situation. There has been very little research on the subject in recent years, and uncertainty remains about this subject, which is of profound importance to patients' comfort and well-being.