There is no obvious advantage in keeping patients 'nil by mouth' following gastrointestinal surgery, and this review support the notion on early commencement. The review implicated lower incidence of several post operative complications. The immediate advantage of caloric intake could be a faster recovery with fewer complications. Length of hospital stay was reduced in nine out of fourteen studies. Overall reduction corresponded to about a day, which is both clinically and economically important. Reduction in complication rates may explain this observation as might faster return of gastrointestinal function upon early commencement of enteral feeding.