Chewing gum good after colon surgery

Chewing gum may enhance intestinal recovery following colectomy and reduce the length of hospital stay. Post-operative ileus, or the inability of the intestines to pass contents, is a common result of abdominal surgery. It causes pain and potential health complications. To find out whether or not chewing gum in the early post-operative period helps patients after colon cancer surgery, researchers from Britain analysed data from five trials involving 158 patients in which some patients chewed sugarless gum three times a day. It was found that patients who chewed gum took an average of one less day to have a bowel movement compared with non-chewers. The researchers attributed the findings to the fact that gum chewing stimulates nerves in the digestive system, triggering the release of gastrointestinal hormones and increases the production of saliva and secretions from the pancreas. However, large-scale studies are needed to assess the true benefits of gum chewing on reducing ileus.

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