Evan Matros, Flavio Rocha, Michael Zinner, John Wang, Stanley Ashley, Elizabeth Breen, David Soybel, Brent Shoji, Anne Burgess, Ronald Bleday, Richard Kuntz, Edward Whang
BACKGROUND: A preliminary report has been interpreted to suggest that gum chewing reduces duration of postcolectomy ileus. STUDY DESIGN: We rigorously tested this hypothesis in a prospective, randomized, placebo-controlled study. Patients undergoing open colectomy (n = 66) were randomized to receive 1 of 3 postoperative regimens beginning on postoperative day 1: sips (control, n = 21); sips and accupressure wrist bracelet (placebo, n = 23); and sips and gum chewing (treatment, n = 22)...
May 2006: Journal of the American College of Surgeons