[Gum chewing reduces duration of postoperative ileus]

Postoperative ileus (POI) after abdominal surgery is characterized by delayed passage of flatus and stool due to decreased bowel motility. Research has been performed in order to find new approaches such as fast track to reduce patient discomfort and durability of POI. One of the latest approaches attempting to reduce POI is gum chewing. Four controlled studies have been published on the subject and the results of two of these studies found a significant decrease in time until first passage of flatus and defaecation. The remaining two studies showed no significant difference, but a slight tendency towards a reduction of POI.