Researchers examined whether non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs) could reduce ileus after surgery. An international, student- and trainee-led collaborative group delivered this prospective multicentre cohort study of 4,164 adult patients who were undergoing elective colorectal resection between January and April 2018. The median age was 68 (IQR 57–75) years; 54·9% were men. Receipt of NSAIDs was reported in about 1,153 (27·7%) adults on postoperative days 1–3; of these, 1,061 (92·0%) received non-selective cyclo-oxygenase inhibitors. Findings revealed no reduction in the time for gastrointestinal recovery after colorectal surgery in correlation with receipt of NSAIDs, however, these were safe and were correlated with the decreased postoperative opioid requirement.