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Gum chewing reduces ileus after elective open sigmoid colectomy
Rob Schuster1, Nina Grewal, Gregory C Greaney
1Department of Surgery, Santa Barbara Cottage Hospital, Santa Barbara, Calif 93102, USA.
Archives of Surgery (Chicago, Ill. : 1960)
|February 24, 2006
Summary
Chewing gum after colon surgery can speed up recovery. This simple method stimulates bowel motility, leading to faster bowel movements and shorter hospital stays for patients.
Area of Science:
- Gastroenterology
- Surgical Recovery
- Postoperative Care
Background:
- Postoperative ileus is a common complication after colon surgery.
- Stimulating bowel motility is key to reducing recovery time.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate the effect of gum chewing on bowel motility and recovery after elective open colon resection.
- To determine if gum chewing can decrease the duration of postoperative ileus.
Main Methods:
- A prospective, randomized study was conducted with 34 patients undergoing elective open sigmoid resection.
- Patients were divided into a gum-chewing group (n=17) and a control group (n=17).
- Outcomes measured included time to first flatus, bowel movement, hunger, and length of hospital stay.
Main Results:
- Gum-chewing patients experienced significantly earlier passage of flatus (65.4 vs. 80.2 hours, P=.05) and bowel movements (63.2 vs. 89.4 hours, P=.04).
- The gum-chewing group had a shorter hospital stay (4.3 days) compared to the control group (6.8 days, P=.01).
- No major complications were observed in either group.
Conclusions:
- Gum chewing effectively stimulates bowel motility, accelerating recovery after elective open sigmoid resection.
- This intervention is an inexpensive and beneficial addition to postoperative care following colectomy.