title: Comparison of methods to facilitate postoperative bowel function.
abstract: Improving postoperative return of bowel function after abdominal surgery is an important nursing and medical goal. One promising intervention to achieve this goal is to have patients chew gum several times per day in the early postoperative period to stimulate the cephalic-vagal reflex and bowel peristalsis. A study to determine if return of gastrointestinal function after abdominal surgery could be hastened by the simple intervention of chewing gum or sucking on hard candy three times per day is described.
authors.affiliation: Surgical Unit, Providence Portland Medical Center, Portland, OR, USA.
authors.forename: Christina
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Crainic
authors.forename: Kathie
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Erickson
authors.forename: Janet
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Gardner
authors.forename: Sheri
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Haberman
authors.forename: Pam
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Patten
authors.forename: Pat
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Thomas
authors.forename: Victoria
authors.initials: V
authors.lastname: Hays
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D000704:Analysis of Variance; D002182:Candy; D002638:Chewing Gum; D015400:Clinical Nursing Research; D003672:Defecation; D005260:Female; D005414:Flatulence; D006801:Humans; D007418:Intestinal Pseudo-Obstruction / Q000209:etiology / Q000517:prevention & control; D007813:Laparotomy / Q000009:adverse effects*; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D015205:Northwestern United States; D010528:Peristalsis; D011182:Postoperative Care / Q000379:methods*; D020127:Recovery of Function
chemical_list: D002638:Chewing Gum