A prospective randomized controlled study of effect of gum chewing on return of gut motility after elective and emergency laparotomy surgeries

Abstract

Objective: To investigate the effect of gum chewing on recovery from post-operative ileus after elective and emergency laparotomy surgeries. Methodology: A prospective randomized study, consisting of 101 patients fulfilling the inclusion criteria was undertaken at Bangalore Baptist Hospital, Bengaluru, from January 2014 to December 2015. Commercially available chewing gum was used. The outcome of interest was time to flatus, time to bowel movement, and length of hospital stay. Results: There were significant reductions in the time to flatus and time to feces between the study group and the control group. The patients in the group got discharged a day earlier as compared to the patients in the control group {Study group (7.87 +/- 1.8 days). Control group (9.085 +/- 1.26days)}. Conclusion: In this study, the efficacy of chewing gum on post-operative ileus was well appreciated. The study group had early recovery as compared to the control group.