Does starting food and drinks early after appendix surgery help adults recover faster?

INTERVENTION: Participants were randomly allocated in a 1:1 ratio to either the early oral feeding group or the conventional delayed feeding group using a computer‐generated random allocation sequence prepared before participant recruitment. Following confirmation of eligibility and written informed consent, participants were assigned to one of the two study groups. Participants in the early oral feeding group commenced clear oral fluids within the first 24 hours after appendectomy, following adequate recovery from anesthesia and confirmation that there were no contraindications to oral intake. Feeding tolerance was assessed by monitoring for nausea, vomiting, abdominal distension, and other signs of intolerance. If clear fluids were tolerated, the diet was progressed to soft foods approximately four hours later and subsequently to a regular diet according to clinical judgment and patient tolerance. Participants in the conventional delayed feeding group received the hospital’s routine postoperative feeding protocol. Oral intake was delayed until evidence of recovery of bowel function, indicated by the first passage of flatus, after which the diet was progressively advanced from clear fluids to soft foods and then to a regular diet. Apart from the timing of postoperative oral feeding, both groups received the same perioperative surgical management, postoperative analgesia, nursing care, and mobilization protocols. Gastrointestinal recovery was assessed using time to first passage of flatus and first bowel movement. Secondary outcomes included time to first mobilization, recovery of bowel sounds, and patient‐reported pain, hunger, thirst, and nausea assessed during the first 36 postoperative hours. CONDITION: Post‐appendectomy recovery ; Surgery PRIMARY OUTCOME: Time to first passage of flatus after surgery measured using time in hours at from completion of surgery until first passage of flatus INCLUSION CRITERIA: 1. Adults aged 18 years or older undergoing appendectomy for uncomplicated acute appendicitis 2. Able to communicate in Turkish 3. Able to provide written informed consent 4. No contraindication to postoperative oral feeding