The Efficacy of Sugar Free Gum Chewing after Upper GI Tract Operation on Ileus: a Clinical Trial

Introduction & In pervious studies it has been shown that gum chewing after elective GI tract operation may stimulate bowel motility and decrease duration of postoperative ileus. The aim of the present study was to assess the effects of sugar free gum chewing after upper GI tract on operation postoperative ileus. In a randomized clinical trial, 50 patients, who were scheduled for elective upper GI surgeries were randomly allocated to 2 groups of gum-chewing group (n=26) and control group (n=24) postoperatively. The patients in the gum-chewing group chewed postoperatively sugar free gum 3 times daily for 1 hour each time until discharge. Patient's demographic characteristics, surgery duration, time to first flatus, time to first bowel movement, and complications were compared. All gum-chewing patients tolerated the gum. The first passage of flatus (72.23±25.52 vs. 92.79±27.35 hours) and time to first bowel movement (95.58±25.88 vs. 110.83±26.18 hours) were significantly lower in the gum-chewing group compared with control group. Gum chewing speeds recovery after the upper GI tract operation. Gum chewing is an inexpensive and helpful care in the upper GI tract postoperative period.