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!!
Ref. EJVES MAY 2016 This is the first systematic review of this kind. Very interesting findings. Seven studies, comprising 461 patients were included in this systematic review. Overall weighted prevalence… Read More
Ref: BMJ JUNE 2017 A large study (meta analysis) on over 140000 patients and published in JAMA cardiology had shown significant benefits of further reducing blood pressure below the usual… Read More
The answer is YES, we can in 1 out of 5 patients!! Ref. EJVES Feb 2016 2015 will be remembered as the year in which intra-arterial thrombolysis (IAT) was established… Read More
