Samiullah Bhatti, Dr1, Shabbar H Changezi, Dr1, Awais A Malik, Dr2, Usman I Butt, Dr1, Waris Farooka, Prof1, Mahmood Ayyaz, Prof1. 1Services Hospital Lahore, 2Lahore General Hospital
Introduction: Postoperative ileus (POI) is generally referred to as the transient impairment of bowel motility after abdominal or other surgery. The potential complications of prolonged POI include increased postoperative pain, nausea and vomiting, delay in postoperative mobilization, prolonged hospitalization, and increased health-care costs. In view of these complications and economic burden a number of pharmacologic and non-pharmacologic strategies have been adopted all over the world to reduce the burden of postoperative ileus.The use of gum chewing has emerged as a new and simple modality for decreasing POI.
Material and Methods: 100 patients having ileostomies, fulfilling inclusion and exclusion criteria were recruited from outpatient department and divided into two groups. Group A patients were allowed to chew gums while Group B patients were not allowed to chew gums after the reversal of ileostomies. All patients were followed and monitored for the mean time to pass 1st flatus and mean length of hospital stay.
Results: Mean age of the patients in group A was 26.12 (+/- 7.1) years and in group B was 28.80 (+/- 10.5) years. There were 25(50%) males and 25(50%) females in group A. In group B there were 29(58%) males and 21(42%) females.
Mean BMI for Group A was 23.5(+/- 5.3) and Group B was 21.4(+/- 4.6).The mean time to pass flatus was noted to be significantly shorter 18.36 (+/- 8.43) hours in the chewing group (group A) while in no chewing gum group (group B) it was 41.16(+/- 6.14) hours (p-value 0.000). The mean length of hospital stay was significantly short 84 (+/- 8.3) hours in the chewing group (group A) as compared to 107.04 (+/-6.4) hours in no gum group (group B) (p-value 0.000).
Conclusion: It is concluded that post-operative chewing of gum after the reversal of ileostomies have a definitive role in reducing post-operative ileus and total length of hospital stay.
Presented at the SAGES 2017 Annual Meeting in Houston, TX.
Abstract ID: 95149
Program Number: P349
Presentation Session: Poster Session (Non CME)
Presentation Type: Poster