title: Gum-chewing stimulates bowel motility after surgery for colorectal cancer.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  During the perioperative period after open colorectal surgery, surgical stress affects changes in the autonomic nervous system of patients. The decreased intestinal motility results in many complaints for patients. To resolve this problem, the usefulness of gum-chewing for improving the motility was examined.
  
  
  METHODS
  Twenty-two patients with colorectal cancer were divided into two groups; gum-chewing and control groups. From after their operation, chewing gum was given to the former group three times a day.
  
  
  RESULTS
  The first passage of flatus and stool in the chewing-gum group after operation were 35 and 50 hours, respectively, sooner for the controls.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  It was concluded that gum-chewing provides a simple and effective method to improve the postoperative state of patients.
authors.affiliation: Gunma Prefectural Cancer Center, Ota, Gunma, Japan. ihirayam@showa.gunma-u.ac.jp
authors.forename: Isao
authors.initials: I
authors.lastname: Hirayama
authors.forename: Makoto
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Suzuki
authors.forename: Munenori
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Ide
authors.forename: Takayuki
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Asao
authors.forename: Hiroyuki
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Kuwano
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D002638:Chewing Gum; D003082:Colectomy / Q000534:rehabilitation*; D015179:Colorectal Neoplasms / Q000601:surgery*; D005260:Female; D005769:Gastrointestinal Motility / Q000502:physiology*; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008409:Mastication / Q000502:physiology*; D008875:Middle Aged; D011184:Postoperative Period; D020127:Recovery of Function; D013997:Time Factors
chemical_list: D002638:Chewing Gum