NCT03666377

Chewing Gum on Postoperative Ileus in Children

The Impact of Chewing Gum on Postoperative Ileus in Children Who Undergo Abdominal Surgery: a Prospective, Randomized, Controlled Pilot Study

• Status: Unknown
• Phase: N/A
• Study type: Interventional
• Enrollment: 140 (estimated)
• Sponsor: University of Manitoba · Academic / Other
• Sex: All
• Age: 4 Years – 17 Years
• Healthy volunteers: Accepted

Summary

Traditional postoperative care has been challenged recently to improve and speedup recovery (including the return of bowel function) such that patients can be discharged to home more quickly. This approach includes earlier mobilization of the patient, and introducing solid food sooner. Additionally, there is evidence in adults to suggest that "sham feeding" by chewing gum may also speed up bowel recovery so the patient may tolerate a solid diet earlier. The aim of this study is to determine if gum chewing can enhance bowel recovery in children who undergo abdominal surgery.

Detailed description

After intestinal surgery, many patients suffer from a "postoperative ileus" (POI). The cause is multifactorial and can be attributed to surgery itself, the lingering effect of the anesthetic, the use of narcotics and decreased mobility of the patient. An ileus can delay the time to full diet, thus lengthening the hospital stay of the patient - sometimes up to several weeks. There is evidence that early drinking/eating and increased mobility may accelerate the return of bowel function. "Fast-tracking" is well documented in the adult literature; protocols have been put in place to enhance GI tract recovery and thus decrease the morbidity of a prolonged hospital stay and ileus. "Fast-tracking" has been done in pediatric patients but not in a large RCT for abdominal surgery.

Conditions

• Bowel Ileus
• Flatus

Interventions

Type	Name	Description
OTHER	Gum chewing	1 piece of sugarless gum to be chewed three times daily for 1 hour each.

Timeline

• Start date: 2018-12-01
• Primary completion: 2024-12-31
• Completion: 2024-12-31
• First posted: 2018-09-11
• Last updated: 2024-02-02

Locations

1 site across 1 country: Canada