Delayed Gastrointestinal Motility, Postoperative Gut Dysfunction, Postoperative Ileus
Conditions
Keywords
Postoperative Ileus, Gastrointestinal Motility, Enhanced Recovery After Surgery (ERAS), Postoperative Recovery
Brief summary
Postoperative ileus (POI) is a frequent complication after abdominal surgery, leading to delayed gastrointestinal motility, prolonged hospital stay, and increased patient discomfort. Chewing gum, as a form of sham feeding, has been proposed to stimulate gut motility through vagal stimulation and increased gastrointestinal secretions. This randomized controlled trial aims to assess the effect of chewing gum on early recovery of gastrointestinal motility in patients undergoing open gastrointestinal surgery.
Detailed description
This prospective randomized controlled trial will evaluate whether chewing gum reduces the time to return of bowel function after gastrointestinal surgery. Ninety-six adult patients undergoing open gastrointestinal surgery will be randomly allocated into intervention and control groups using block randomization. The intervention group will receive glucose-containing chewing gum starting six hours postoperatively. Outcomes measured include time to first bowel sounds, passage of flatus, and defecation. Statistical analysis will assess differences between groups to determine the efficacy of chewing gum in preventing postoperative ileus.
Interventions
BEHAVIORALChewing Gum
Participants will chew glucose/carbohydrate-containing chewing gum for 15 minutes, three times daily, starting 6 hours after surgery and continuing for 48 hours or until the first passage of flatus or stool, in addition to standard postoperative care.
Sponsors
Khyber Medical University Peshawar
Khyber Teaching Hospital
Study design
Allocation
RANDOMIZED
Intervention model
PARALLEL
Primary purpose
PREVENTION
Masking
NONE
Masking description
This is an open-label study. Neither participants nor investigators are blinded due to the nature of the intervention.
Intervention model description
Participants will be randomly assigned to two parallel groups. An intervention group receiving chewing gum and a control group receiving standard postoperative care without chewing gum.
Eligibility
Sex/Gender
ALL
Age
17 Years to 85 Years
Healthy volunteers
No
Inclusion criteria
* Age between 17 and 85 years. * Patients of either gender. * Undergoing open gastrointestinal surgical procedures (elective or emergency). * Willing to participate and able to provide informed consent.
Exclusion criteria
* Patients with metabolic or endocrine disorders (diabetes mellitus, hypothyroidism, or hyperthyroidism). * Patients with renal disease or electrolyte imbalance. * Patients with chronic constipation or neuromuscular disorders. * Patients with substance abuse or drug addiction. * Patients receiving medications affecting gut motility (calcium channel blockers or antiepileptic drugs). * Patients with dental prosthesis or undergoing laparoscopic gastrointestinal surgery.
Design outcomes
Primary
| Measure | Time frame | Description |
|---|---|---|
| Time to First Passage of Flatus | Within 48 hours postoperatively | Time interval (in hours) from the end of surgery to the first postoperative passage of flatus, assessed by patient self-report and clinical evaluation. |
| Time to First Defecation | Within 48 hours postoperatively | Time interval (in hours) from the end of surgery to the first postoperative bowel movement (defecation), assessed by patient self-report and clinical evaluation. |
Countries
Pakistan
Contacts
CONTACTDr Ali Raza, MBBS
CONTACTDr Munir Ahmed, FCPS
PRINCIPAL_INVESTIGATORDr Ali Raza, MBBS
Khyber Teaching Hospital
PRINCIPAL_INVESTIGATORDr Munir Ahmed, FCPS
Khyber Teaching Hospital
Outcome results
None listed