ObjectiveTo investigate the effect of preoperative gum chewing on the postoperative rehabilitation of patients undergoing gynecologic laparoscopic surgery.MethodsA total of 160 patients undergoing elective gynecologic laparoscopic surgery between January and May 2013 were selected to participate in the study. Each patient was randomly assigned to one of the two groups: the trial group (n=80) or the control group (n=80). Thirty to sixty minutes before the surgery, the patients in the trial group chewed one piece of sugarless gum for at least 30 minutes, and then removed the gum before being taken to the operating room; while the patients in the control group chewed nothing. The time to first passage of flatus and the time to first defecation after surgery, length of hospital stay, the degrees of pain at 2-, 4-, 6-, 8-, 24-, 48-hour after surgery, the incidences of postoperative nausea, vomiting, and abdominal distension, postoperative analgesic and antiemetic drug requirement were recorded.ResultsThe mean time to first passage of flatus was significantly earlier in the trial group than that in the control group [(16.49±7.64) vs. (20.25±7.94) hours, P=0.003]. The mean time to first defecation was significantly earlier in the trial group than that in the control group [(48.16±15.25) vs. (55.80±18.97) hours, P=0.006]. The degree of pain at 2-hour after surgery was significantly lighter in the trial group than that in the control group (P<0.05). Fewer participants in the trial group than in the control group experienced postoperative nausea (43.75% vs. 61.25%, P=0.027). There were no significant differences in the length of hospital stay, the degrees of pain at 4-, 6-, 8-, 24- and 48-hour after surgery, incidences of postoperative vomiting and abdominal distension, postoperative analgesic, or antiemetic drug requirement between the two groups (P>0.05).ConclusionsGum chewing before surgery can promote the recovery of gastrointestinal function, reduce postoperative short-term pain, and promote postoperative rehabilitation in patients undergoing gynecologic laparoscopic surgery. Gum chewing before surgery can be used clinically as an easy, inexpensive, safe, and effective procedure.
ObjectiveTo assess the effect of chewing gum on the recovery of postoperative gastrointestinal function in patients with colorectal cancer. MethodsA comprehensive search for relevant randomised controlled trials (RCTs) was conducted in domestic and international databases such as PubMed, The Cochrane Library, Web of Science, Chinese Science and Technology Journal Full-text Database, Chinese Periodicals Full-text Database, Wanfang data, and other databases, with a timeframe up to September 2023. The literature was screened according to the inclusion and exclusion criteria. Simultaneously, the literature quality evaluation and data extraction were performed. The continuous variables were described using mean difference (95% confidence interval) and the binary variables were described using odds ratio (95% confidence interval). Test level was α=0.05. ResultsA total of 28 RCTs covering 2 523 postoperative colorectal cancer patients were included. The meta-analysis results showed that the postoperative chewing gum could shorten the time of the first flatus [–11.99 (–14.45, –9.53)], the first defecation [–18.79 (–23.58, –14.00)], the first bowel sounds [–6.35 (–6.64, –6.06)] or the first starvation [–5.20 (–10.11, –0.28)], and the hospital stay [–1.35 (–1.99, –0.70)], as well as could increase the serum gastrin level [23.70 (14.88, 32.53)]. Furthermore, it also could decrease the incidence of postoperative complications, such as nausea [0.66 (0.48, 0.91)], abdominal distension [0.48 (0.35, 0.67)], and intestinal obstruction [0.34 (0.20, 0.59)]. However, there was a non-significant effect on vomiting [0.81 (0.60, 1.09)] or time of the first oral intake [–0.67 (–1.99, 0.65)]. ConclusionsFrom the results of this meta-analysis, postoperative gum chewing aids to promote the recovery of gastrointestinal function and reduce the risk of postoperative complications in colorectal cancer patients. Although further studies are needed to verify the long-term effects and the feasibility of clinical application, the results of this study provide an important empirical support for the utilize of chewing gum in the management of postoperative gastrointestinal function.