Hypothesis: Gum chewing after elective open colon resection
may stimulate bowel motility and decrease duration
of postoperative ileus.
Design and Setting: Prospective, randomized study
in a community-based teaching hospital.
Patients: Thirty-four patients undergoing elective open
sigmoid resections for recurrent diverticulitis or cancer.
Main Outcome Measures: First feelings of hunger,
time to first flatus, time to first bowel movement, length
of hospital stay, and complications.
Results: A total of 34 patients were randomized into 2
groups: a gum-chewing group (n=17) or a control group
(n=17). The patients in the gum-chewing group chewed
sugarless gum 3 times daily for 1 hour each time until
discharge. Patient demographics, intraoperative, and postoperative
care were equivalent between the 2 groups. All