Abstract

Background: Abnormal gastrointestinal motility is a common problem following any major surgery.

Aim: To assess the effect of gum chewing on the return of bowel motility in the postoperative period in women following cesarean section. Materials and Methods: This study was a randomized control study between two groups, i.e. women receiving chewing gum (study group) and women receiving standard protocol without chewing gum following cesarean section (control group). The sample size was 180. 90 in each study group (chewing gum) and control group (without chewing gum). The parameters compared were the time interval to first bowel sounds, first passage of flatus and first passage of feces after cesarean section in both study and the control group.

Results: In the study group, 87.8% had their first bowel sounds within 4 hours, 84.4% had passed flatus in the first 12 hours and 94.4% had passed feces within 48 hours and the requirement of laxative was 4.4% in the study group. All the above parameters are statistically significant.

Conclusion: Chewing gum is safe, cost effective intervention to prevent postoperative ileus. It can be used as a simple intervention following cesarean section to reduce the overall postoperative morbidity, the length of hospital stay and thereby reducing the financial burden.