title: Gum chewing: another simple potential method for more rapid improvement of postoperative gastrointestinal function.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Sham feeding has been reported to enhance bowel motility. Here, to promote gastrointestinal function after postoperative ileus, the effect of gum chewing (GC) was evaluated.
  
  
  METHODS
  Literature search including PubMed, Embase, Science Citation Index, SpringerLink, and secondary sources. Fixed-effect and random-effects models were used to measure the pooled estimates. The test of heterogeneity was performed with the Q statistic. Stratified and sensitivity analyses were performed to explore heterogeneity between studies and to assess effects of study quality.
  
  
  RESULTS
  GC was well tolerated in a total of 1,148 cases in this meta-analysis. The pooled weighted mean difference for time to first flatus and bowel movement in GC was found to be -9.21 (95% CI: -12.07 to -6.34; p < 0.01) and -11.42 (95% CI: -16.05 to -6.79; p < 0.01), respectively, compared to standardized postoperative care. The intervention also decreased length of hospitalization by 12.23 h (95% CI: -18.80 to -5.67; p = 0.0003). Subgroup analyses for different abdominal procedures all favored GC.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  This meta-analysis demonstrated that GC was safe and easily tolerated without any complications following abdominal surgery to potentially shorten postoperative ileus.
authors.affiliation: General Surgery Department, Sun Yat-sen Memorial Hospital, Sun Yat-sen University, Guangzhou, China.
authors.forename: Zi
authors.initials: Z
authors.lastname: Yin
authors.forename: Jian
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Sun
authors.forename: Ting
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Liu
authors.forename: Yue
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Zhu
authors.forename: Shuling
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Peng
authors.forename: Jie
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Wang
mesh_terms: D002638:Chewing Gum; D005769:Gastrointestinal Motility; D006760:Hospitalization; D006801:Humans; D045823:Ileus / Q000209:etiology / Q000503:physiopathology / Q000534:rehabilitation*; D011182:Postoperative Care; D011183:Postoperative Complications / Q000534:rehabilitation*; D011184:Postoperative Period
chemical_list: D002638:Chewing Gum