Gum-chewing stimulates bowel motility after surgery for colorectal cancer.
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.
Hirayama
Isao
I
Gunma Prefectural Cancer Center, Ota, Gunma, Japan. ihirayam@showa.gunma-u.ac.jp
Suzuki
Makoto
M
Ide
Munenori
M
Asao
Takayuki
T
Kuwano
Hiroyuki
H
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
D002638:Chewing Gum