title: Multimodal interventions (chewing gum, early oral hydration and early mobilisation) on the intestinal motility following abdominal gynaecologic surgery.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To determine the effects of chewing gum, early oral hydration and early mobilisation on the time of first bowel sounds, first passage of flatus and first defecation following abdominal gynaecologic surgery.
  
  
  BACKGROUND
  A major complication of abdominal surgical procedures is paralytic ileus which results in patient discomfort, prolonged length of hospital stay and increased cost of treatment.
  
  
  METHODS
  Prospective randomised case-control study.
  
  
  METHODS
  Women who underwent abdominal gynaecological surgery for benign disorders under general anaesthesia were randomised into eight groups according to different combinations of interventions consisting of chewing gum, early oral hydration and early mobilisation. The effects of these interventions on the time of first bowel sounds, first passage of flatus and first defecation following abdominal gynaecologic surgery were investigated. The data were analysed using chi-square tests, t-test for independent samples, Tukey's HSD test, pairwise comparison test, one-way analysis of variance.
  
  
  RESULTS
  It was found that the time when bowel sounds were heard was shorter, the time first passage of flatus was shorter and first defecation occurred earlier in the 1st group of women who chew gum, were hydrated orally and were mobilised early after surgery than the other groups. It was also determined that these periods were longest in the women who did not receive any intervention and received the routine hospital care when compared with other groups. Duration of hospital stay was shorter in the women who chew gum, were hydrated orally and were mobilised early than the other groups.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Early oral feeding, early mobilisation and chewing gum are effective methods in terms of preventing paralytic ileus following abdominal gynaecological surgery, improving patient comfort and shortening the duration of hospitalisation.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Nurses may cause early recovery, improve the patient comfort, prevent paralytic ileus and shorten the duration of hospitalisation after gynaecologic abdominal surgery by recommending gum chewing, early mobilisation and early hydration.
authors.affiliation: Faculty of Nursing, Hacettepe University, Ankara, Turkey. fusun@hacettepe.edu.tr
authors.forename: Fusun
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Terzioglu
authors.forename: Sevgi
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Şimsek
authors.forename: Kubra
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Karaca
authors.forename: Nilay
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Sariince
authors.forename: Pinar
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Altunsoy
authors.forename: Mehmet Coskun
authors.initials: MC
authors.lastname: Salman
mesh_terms: D000005:Abdomen / Q000601:surgery*; D002638:Chewing Gum; D005260:Female; D005440:Fluid Therapy; D005769:Gastrointestinal Motility; D013509:Gynecologic Surgical Procedures / Q000009:adverse effects*; D006801:Humans; D008875:Middle Aged
chemical_list: D002638:Chewing Gum