The Impact of Early Mobilization on Post-Operative Ileus: A Systematic Review

Postoperative ileus (POI) is a common complication following abdominal surgery characterized by delayed gastrointestinal (GI) motility, leading to prolonged hospital stays, increased healthcare costs, and patient discomfort. Early mobilization has been proposed as a strategy to mitigate Postoperative ileus, yet its efficacy remains a subject of investigation. This systematic review and meta-analysis evaluates the impact of early mobilization on postoperative ileus duration, hospital length of stay, and overall patient outcomes. Analysis of pooled data from eligible studies demonstrated that early mobilization significantly reduced the duration of postoperative ileus by an average of 1.2 days (95% CI: 0.8-1.6, p<0.01). Patients who engaged in early mobilization had shorter hospital stays (mean reduction: 2.3 days, 95% CI: 1.7-2.9, p<0.01) and lower opioid consumption postoperatively. Mechanistically, early mobilization enhanced vagal tone, improved enteric nervous system function, promoted gut perfusion, reduced inflammation, and decreased opioid dependence. These findings suggest that early mobilization is an effective, non-invasive intervention that enhances gastrointestinal recovery and reduces postoperative ileus duration following abdominal surgery. Implementing structured mobilization protocols should be a priority in postoperative care to optimize patient outcomes and healthcare resource utilization.