Objective Postoperative ileus is common after colorectal
resection and can prolong hospital stay. Gum chewing, a
type of sham feeding, may to stimulate gut motility via
cephalic-vagal stimulation, and thereby reduce the length
of ileus. This study aimed to determine whether gum
chewing in the immediate postoperative period facilitated
recovery from ileus following resection for left-sided
colorectal cancer.