Evaluation of postoperative gum chewing role in stimulating bowel motility in colonic surgery

Abstract EN

Objective: Postoperative ileus (POI) after abdominal surgery is an inevitable consequence of various etiologies.

It causes much discomfort to patients by resultant vomiting, abdominal distention, and prolonged hospital stay; thus, exploring efficient and cost effective solutions could reduce the patients' suffering and hospital stay.

This study aimed to evaluate the effect of gum chewing on the duration of POI following colonic surgery.

Patients and methods: Ninety patients at Aljumhoory Teaching Hospital from October 2007 to October 2008, undergoing elective large bowel surgeries were randomly assigned to the study group (n=44) and the control group (n=46).

Patients in the study group chewed gum 3 times daily for 20 minutes starting from the 1st postoperative day until the return of bowel function.

The control group patients had standard postoperative treatment.

All patients were assessed clinically and the data were collected using an inquiry forma for every patient.

Results: Study and control group patients were comparable at inclusion.

The mean time for the passage of first flatus as well as the time for the first bowel movement was shorter significantly in the study group (by 20.4 hours, P=<0.01; by 22 hours, P=<0.01) respectively.

The first feeling of hunger was also experienced earlier in study group cases (by 14.7 hours, P=<0.01).

The postoperative hospital stay was shorter in the study group, but the difference was not significant (P=<0.1).

Conclusion: Early postoperative gum chewing significantly hastens the time of bowel function recovery following colonic surgery.

Moreover, it is a cost-effective and well-tolerated treatment for POI.