Randomized clinical trial of chewing gum after laparoscopic colorectal resection
Chewing gum may enhance intestinal motility after surgery. This trial studied whether chewing gum could lead to a further reduction in ileus in patients who had a laparoscopic colorectal resection and followed an enhanced recovery programme.
Forty-one patients were randomized into each group. Thirty-seven patients underwent rectal resection and 45 had a colonic resection. Time to passage of flatus was shorter (18 versus 34 h; P = 0·007), first bowel motion occurred earlier (19 versus 44 h; P = 0·001) and time to feeling hungry was earlier(16 versus 25 h; P = 0·001) in the intervention group. There was no difference in the duration of hospital stay (5 days in the intervention group versus 5·5 days in the control group). No adverse eventswere attributed to chewing gum.
Chewing gum is probably a simple intervention that speeds intestinal transit in patients managed with a recovery programme after laparoscopic colorectal resection, but also can be used in other non-colorectal surgery such as vascular surgery. VERY NICE!!
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