Gum chewing reduces postoperative ileus? A systematic review and meta-analysis

Abstract

Chewing sugarless gum following elective intestinal resection is associated with improved outcomes. Insufficient data were available to demonstrate a reduced rate of clinical complications or reduced cost. An adequately powered, methodologically rigorous trial of gum chewing is required to confirm if there are any benefits and if these result in differences in clinical outcomes such as infection.

Guidelines for Perioperative Care for Pancreaticoduodenectomy: Enhanced Recovery After Surgery (ERAS®) Society Recommendations

“…As noted above, the appropriate use of epidurals and maintaining a near-zero fluid balance are associated with an enhanced return of bowel activity after abdominal surgery [88,146]. Chewing gum has been shown to be safe and beneficial in restoring gut activity after colorectal surgery [176][177][178] Postoperative artificial nutrition Most patients tolerate normal oral intake soon after elective PD. Early oral intake in this patient group has been shown to be feasible and safe [6,144].…”

Enhanced recovery after surgery (ERAS) protocols: Time to change practice?

“…Although there are relatively low patient numbers and a significant heterogeneity of studies, chewing gum offers significant benefits by reducing the time to pass flatus and the time until first bowel movement. [79][80][81][82] The use of bowel segments in the reconstruction of the urinary tract after cystectomy lead Kouba and colleagues to examine the use of chewing gum following cystectomy. 83 The time to flatus was shorter in patients who received gum compared with controls (2.4 vs. 2.9 days).…”

Effects of Bit Chewing on Right Upper Quadrant Intestinal Sound Frequency in Adult Horses

“…Although there is no confirmed evidence of the effectiveness of gum chewing, it seems to have some success in reducing time from surgery to first fecal passage and hospitalization time [11,16,17].…”