Effect of Chewing Gum in reducing Postoperative Ileus after Gastro-duodenal perforation peritonitis surgery: a prospective randomized controlled trial

Chewing gum reduces the duration of post operative ileus and early recovery of bowel function following elective abdominal surgery. However, its role has not been studied in cases of gastroduodenal perforation peritonitis; prompting us to conduct this study. Eighty-two patients were randomized into two groups, 39 patients received chewing gum (study group) and 43 patients were in control group. Sensation of hunger, appearance of first bowel sound, passages of flatus and faeces were significantly early in the study group; their hospital stay was also shorter. Chewing gum reduces the duration of post operative ileus in cases of gastroduodenal perforation peritonitis. Registration number: IEC/2020-23/3359 dated 13-12-2020, Institutional Ethics committee Netaji Subhash Chandra Bose Medical College, Jabalpur, India.