Gum chewing stimulates early return of bowel motility after gynecologic laparoscopic surgery

ObjectiveThe laparoscopic approach to gynecologic surgery has important benefits on postoperative recovery and complications, which results the further postoperative enhanced recovery program has not been addressed. To assess the effects of gum chewing on postoperative bowel function after gynecologic laparoscopic surgery.DesignRandomized controlled trial.Materials and MethodsWomen who underwent gynecologic laparoscopic surgery were randomized to either a gum-chewing group (n = 53) or a non-gum-chewing group (n = 56). The two groups were compared with respect to the return of bowel activity, postoperative pain, postoperative complications and postoperative hospital stay.ResultsBowel sounds appeared in a significantly shorter duration of time in the study group, the mean being 8.26 h as compared to 12.70 h in the control group (p < 0.001). The first passage of flatus postoperatively was 22.43 h in the gum-chewing group and 28.12 h in the control group (P=0.001). The postoperative length of hospital stay was longer in the gum-chewing group (2.85 days) than in the control group (2.66 days), but it was not statistically significant (p > 0.05). Postoperative pain in both groups was similar. The postoperative ileus was fewer, but not significantly, in gum-chewing group as compared to the control group (3.8% vs. 7.1%, P=0.441).ConclusionThere is still a place to enhance the postoperative bowel recovery for gynecologic patients underwent laparoscopic surgery. On the basis of the tolerability and results on bowel function, gum chewing provides a simple method for early recovery of bowel function after laparoscopic surgery for gynecologic patients. ObjectiveThe laparoscopic approach to gynecologic surgery has important benefits on postoperative recovery and complications, which results the further postoperative enhanced recovery program has not been addressed. To assess the effects of gum chewing on postoperative bowel function after gynecologic laparoscopic surgery. The laparoscopic approach to gynecologic surgery has important benefits on postoperative recovery and complications, which results the further postoperative enhanced recovery program has not been addressed. To assess the effects of gum chewing on postoperative bowel function after gynecologic laparoscopic surgery. DesignRandomized controlled trial. Randomized controlled trial. Materials and MethodsWomen who underwent gynecologic laparoscopic surgery were randomized to either a gum-chewing group (n = 53) or a non-gum-chewing group (n = 56). The two groups were compared with respect to the return of bowel activity, postoperative pain, postoperative complications and postoperative hospital stay. Women who underwent gynecologic laparoscopic surgery were randomized to either a gum-chewing group (n = 53) or a non-gum-chewing group (n = 56). The two groups were compared with respect to the return of bowel activity, postoperative pain, postoperative complications and postoperative hospital stay. ResultsBowel sounds appeared in a significantly shorter duration of time in the study group, the mean being 8.26 h as compared to 12.70 h in the control group (p < 0.001). The first passage of flatus postoperatively was 22.43 h in the gum-chewing group and 28.12 h in the control group (P=0.001). The postoperative length of hospital stay was longer in the gum-chewing group (2.85 days) than in the control group (2.66 days), but it was not statistically significant (p > 0.05). Postoperative pain in both groups was similar. The postoperative ileus was fewer, but not significantly, in gum-chewing group as compared to the control group (3.8% vs. 7.1%, P=0.441). Bowel sounds appeared in a significantly shorter duration of time in the study group, the mean being 8.26 h as compared to 12.70 h in the control group (p < 0.001). The first passage of flatus postoperatively was 22.43 h in the gum-chewing group and 28.12 h in the control group (P=0.001). The postoperative length of hospital stay was longer in the gum-chewing group (2.85 days) than in the control group (2.66 days), but it was not statistically significant (p > 0.05). Postoperative pain in both groups was similar. The postoperative ileus was fewer, but not significantly, in gum-chewing group as compared to the control group (3.8% vs. 7.1%, P=0.441). ConclusionThere is still a place to enhance the postoperative bowel recovery for gynecologic patients underwent laparoscopic surgery. On the basis of the tolerability and results on bowel function, gum chewing provides a simple method for early recovery of bowel function after laparoscopic surgery for gynecologic patients. There is still a place to enhance the postoperative bowel recovery for gynecologic patients underwent laparoscopic surgery. On the basis of the tolerability and results on bowel function, gum chewing provides a simple method for early recovery of bowel function after laparoscopic surgery for gynecologic patients.