Introduction: Postoperative ileus is a normal response to the surgical handling of bowel that causes transient impairment of bowel motility after abdominal surgery. It is characterized by distension, absence of bowel sounds, and lack of passage of flatus and stool. The duration of postoperative ileus is related to the degree of surgical manipulation and the location of surgery. Colonic surgery is associated with the longest duration of ileus. Morphine patient-controlled intravenous analgesia (PCIA) is commonly used to provide pain control after bowel surgery. The bowel wall contains opiate receptors that decrease bowel peristalsis in the presence of morphine. Thus, both surgery and PCIA slow return of normal bowel function.