ROLE OF GUM CHEWING IN POSTOPERATIVE GUT MOTILITY AFTER CESAREAN SECTION UNDER GENERAL ANESTHESIA

Abstract

Objective: to evaluate the role of gum chewing in improving postoperative gut motility among women undergoing cesarean section under general anesthesia, and to determine whether early gum chewing can help in faster return of bowel sounds and reduce postoperative discomfort and ileus.

Place and Duration: Department of Gynaecology and Obstetrics, Tertiary Care Hospital, data collection from Jan 2024 to Nov 2024.

Study Design: Quasi-experimental study

Methodology: A total of 150 women undergoing cesarean section under general anesthesia were included through consecutive sampling. Participants were randomly divided into two groups. Group A received standard postoperative care, while Group B were asked to chew sugar-free gum for 15 minutes, three times daily, starting two hours after surgery until the first passage of flatus. The time to first bowel sound, passage of flatus, and tolerance to oral intake were recorded.

Results: The two groups were similar at baseline, but women who chewed gum showed a significantly faster return of gut motility, with the first bowel sound occurring at 7.92 ± 1.49 hours in Group B compared with 10.01 ± 2.05 hours in Group A (p < 0.001). The mean time to first passage of flatus was also shorter in the gum-chewing group at 14.01 ± 1.89 hours versus 17.83 ± 2.99 hours in the routine-care group (p < 0.001). Women in Group B tolerated oral intake earlier, at 17.96 ± 1.94 hours compared with 21.93 ± 3.04 hours in Group A (p < 0.001), and had lower postoperative abdominal discomfort scores (4.03 ± 0.91 vs 6.04 ± 1.50, p < 0.001). Although postoperative ileus and nausea were not significantly different between the groups, abdominal distension was significantly less common among women who chewed gum (12.0% vs 28.0%, p = 0.014).

Conclusion: The study concluded that gum chewing is a simple, safe, and cost-effective method to stimulate bowel activity and improved recovery after caesarean section under general anaesthesia.