Nasogastric tubes are flexible tubes inserted through nose, pharynx,

oesophagus into the stomach. Prophylactic nasogastric decompression after

abdominal surgery until gastrointestinal function returns is a routine postoperative

procedure in many medical centers. This study was conducted to find the usefulness of nasogastric decompression in patients undergoing elective colorectal surgery. Comparison of various parameters like, time for nasogastric tube removal, time to pass flatus, time to start oral feeding, postoperative hospital stay, postoperative complications between patients with nasogastric tube and without nasogastric tube were done. The study was conducted in General Surgery department of Government Medical College Trivandrum over a period of 1 year. It was concluded that routine use of nasogastric decompression following elective colorectal surgeries may be safely eliminated. Avoidance of routine nasogastric decompression increased comfort and mobility of patients. Postoperative hospital stay is significantly shorter with avoidance of routine nasogastric tube decompression.