GUM chewing decreases the duration of postoperative ileus after ileostomy reversal: A single center experience.

Abstract

Post-operative ileus is a common compliant of patients at surgical floor. Studies have reported that gums chewing after abdominal surgeries decrease postoperative ileus (POI); but very few studies are available on role of chewing gum in ileostomy reversal cases. We concluded that post-operative gum chewing with standard post-operative care in patients undergoing elective surgery for ileostomy closure done for typhoid ileal perforation in terms of mean length of hospital stay and mean time of passage of first flatus is significantly better than those without gum chewing. Objectives: To compare post-operative gum chewing with standard care in cases having elective ileostomy closure in terms of mean length of hospital stay and mean time of passage of first flatus. Study Design: Randomized Control Trial. Setting: Department of Surgery, Allied Hospital Faisalabad. Period: 1^st January 2017 to 31^st December 2017. Material & Methods: Patients of 20 to 60 years undergoing elective surgery for typhoid ileal perforation were included in the study after informed consent. Two groups with A: allocated to chewing gum three times a day up to discharge; Control group: allocated to standard post-operative care without chew gum. Length of hospital stay and time of passage of first flatus was noted. Results: In this study, mean length of hospital stay in Chewing gum group was 7.73+0.74 days and 10.27+0.87 days in Control group, p value was 0.0001, mean time of passage of first flatus in Chewing gum group was 49.97+1.69 hrs and 89.17+2.07 hrs in Control group, p value was 0.0001. Conclusion: We concluded that post-operative gum chewing with standard post-operative care in patients undergoing elective surgery for ileostomy closure done for typhoid ileal perforation in terms of mean length of hospital stay and mean time of passage of first flatus is significantly better than those without gum chewing.