Key result
Chewing gum was slightly more effective than early mobilization for returning bowel sounds at 12-<24 hours (56.7% vs 43.3%), but the difference was not statistically significant.
Why the study?
Post-operative ileus increases duration of hospitalization, cost of care, and post-operative morbidity, motivating evaluation of interventions to improve bowel motility in children after abdominal surgery.
Does chewing gum improve bowel motility compared to early mobilization in children after abdominal surgery?
Does chewing gum improve bowel motility compared to early mobilization in children after abdominal surgery?
Absolute Event Rate: 56.7% vs 43.3%
p-value: p=not statistically significant
Chewing gum and early mobilization are both recommended to improve bowel motility in children after abdominal surgery, with chewing gum showing a slight but non-significant advantage.
No significant difference favors chewing gum over early mobilization; leaves open optimal protocols for pediatric post-abdominal surgery recovery.
Post-operative ileus is a major focus of concern for nurses because it increases duration of hospitalization, cost of care and post-operative morbidity. Aim: this study aimed to determine the efficacy of chewing gum versus early mobilization on bowel motility for children after abdominal surgery. Design: a quasi experimental research design. Subjects and method: a convenience sample of 90 children aged from 6 to 18 years. Setting: this study was conducted at the pediatric surgery unit in Assuit University Children's Hospital. Tools: two tools were used to collect the necessary data, a structured questionnaire and bowel motility monitoring sheet. Method: A pilot study was carried out on 10% of children to test the clarity and applicability of the sheet. Results: revealed that (56.7%) of the chewing gum group and (43.3%) of the early mobilization group return their bowel sound during 12-<24 hrs, time to return of bowel sound, passage of first flatus, first feces, return of appetite, time of liquid and regular diet were statistically significant difference in the chewing gum group while only time to passage of first flatus and first feces were statistically significant difference in the early mobilization group. Conclusion: it was found that chewing gum was slightly more effective than early mobilization but the difference was not statistically significant. Recommendation: the use of chewing gum and early mobilization as routine interventions to improve bowel motility for children after abdominal surgery.
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Abd-Elhamed et al. (2020) studied Post-operative ileus after abdominal surgery (n=90). Chewing gum vs. Early mobilization was evaluated on Return of bowel sound during 12-<24 hours (p=not statistically significant). Chewing gum was slightly more effective than early mobilization for returning bowel sounds at 12-<24 hours (56.7% vs 43.3%), but the difference was not statistically significant.
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