Mao M, et al. - From a prospective database of patients who underwent surgery at Auckland City Hospital, researchers audited economic data to investigate the economic burden of ileus for patients undergoing elective colorectal surgery. For the first time, the financial impact of prolonged ileus diagnosed prospectively using a standardized definition was assessed in this study. They attained economic data from 325 patients; ileus developed in 88 of these patients (27%). For patients with prolonged ileus, including complication rates and length of stay, they determined the median inpatient cost (New Zealand dollars) of $27,981 compared with $16,317 for other patients, a 71% increase in cost. When considering rates of major complications and length of stay, ileus remained a significant financial burden as per multivariate analysis.