The Purpose of this study is to evaluate the effect of gum chewing on recovery of gastrointestinal function in patient undergoing major colorectal surgery. The investigators hypothesize that patients who chew gum after major colorectal surgery will have faster recovery of gastrointestinal function.
Study Type
INTERVENTIONAL
Allocation
RANDOMIZED
Purpose
TREATMENT
Masking
NONE
Enrollment
114
One stick of gum, 3 times daily from Postoperative day 1 to 7
Cedars Sinai Medical Center
Los Angeles, California, United States
Time (in hours) to tolerating a low residue diet
Time measured from end of operation to patient tolerating 50% of a low residue diet without emesis in 24 hours
Time frame: 30 day postoperative period
Time (in hours) to passage of flatus
Time from end of operation to first passage of flatus (reported by patient)
Time frame: 30 day postoperative period
Time (hours) to first bowel movement
Time (hours) from end of operation to first bowel movement
Time frame: 30 day postoperative period
Daily Appetite Assessment
Patient asked to record appetite on a scale from 0 (no appetite) to 10 (appetite as good as can be)
Time frame: Postoperative day 1 - 7
Daily pain assessment
Patient asked to rate pain on VAS scale from 0 (no pain) to 10 (pain as bad as can be)
Time frame: Postoperative day 1 - 7
Daily nausea assessment
Patient asked to rate nausea on a scale from 0 (no nausea) to 10 (nausea as bad as can be)
Time frame: Postoperative day 1 - 7
Major or Minor Medical and Surgical Complications
Time frame: 30 day postoperative period
Length of postoperative hospitalization in days
Time frame: Duration of postoperative hospitalization (expected average of 5 days)
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