Objective To evaluate the association between intraoperative fluid management and prolonged postoperative ileus (PPOI) after colorectal surgery. Methods We reviewed the data of 980 patients who underwent elective colorectal surgery in West China Hospital of Sichuan University between July and December 2016. The primary outcome was PPOI. The association of intraoperative fluid volume and fluid balance with PPOI were analyzed. Results Nine hundred and eighty patients undergoing elective colorectal surgery were included, and the incidence of PPOI was 31.1% (305/980). Compared with non-PPOI patients, patients with PPOI had longer postoperative hospital stay and increased total hospital cost (P<0.05). Multivariate logistic regression analysis did not find intraoperative fluid volume and fluid balance were associated with PPOI in patients undergoing colorectal surgery (P>0.05). Conclusions There is no clinically relevant association between intraoperative fluid management and PPOI in adult patients underwent colorectal surgery. However, the occurrence of PPOI may prolong postoperative hospital stay and increase hospitalization cost.