Ann Coloproctol.  2013 Dec;29(6):248-251. 10.3393/ac.2013.29.6.248.

Effect of Gum Chewing on the Recovery From Laparoscopic Colorectal Cancer Surgery

• Hwang DY
• Kim HY
• Kim JH
• Lee IG
• Kim JK
• Oh ST
• Lee YS

• KMID: 2046894
• DOI: http://doi.org/10.3393/ac.2013.29.6.248

Abstract

PURPOSE
We aimed to examine the effect of gum chewing after laparoscopic colorectal cancer surgery.
METHODS
We reviewed the medical records of patients who underwent laparoscopic colorectal cancer surgery in Incheon St. Mary's Hospital, The Catholic University of Korea School of Medicine. We divided the patients into 2 groups: group A consisted of 67 patients who did not chew gum; group B consisted of 65 patients who chewed gum. We analyzed the short-term clinical outcomes between the two groups to evaluate the effect of gum chewing.
RESULTS
The first passage of gas was slightly earlier in group B, but the difference was not significant. However, the length of hospital stay was 6.7 days in group B, which was significantly shorter than that in group A (7.3 days, P = 0.018).
CONCLUSION
This study showed that length of postoperative hospital stay was shorter in the gum-chewing group. In future studies, we expect to elucidate the effect of gum chewing on the postoperative recovery more clearly.

Keyword

Chewing gum; Colorectal neoplasms; Laparoscopy; Sham feeding

MeSH Terms

Chewing Gum
Colorectal Neoplasms*
Gingiva*
Humans
Incheon
Korea
Laparoscopy
Length of Stay
Mastication*
Medical Records
Chewing Gum