The Efficacy of Chewing Gum in Postoperative Ileus Management After Robot Assisted Laparoscopic Radical Prostatectomy: A Prospective Randomized Study

Aim:To examine the efficacy of chewing gum on bowel motility in the early postoperative period in patients with prostate cancer undergoing robot-assisted laparoscopic prostatectomy (RALP) we prepared this study. Materials and Methods:The study was obtained from the local ethics committee. A total of 67 patients who underwent general anaesthesia were included in the study. Patients were divided into two groups as chewing gum group (Group G) and the control group (Group C). In the postoperative period, the patients in the Group G were chewed gum in the postoperative period. Bowel function improvement was inspected. The study was terminated at the first gas passage occurred. This time interval was noted. Demographic datas, intraoperative parameters, surgical results were analysed and compared. The first time of bowel movement, length of hospitalisation, and surgical wound site pain and abdominal pain intensity according to the Visual Analogue Scale (VAS) were recorded at the 12th 24th and 36th postoperative hours. Results:At the end of the study, 23 patients in the Group C and 25 patients in Group G were evaluated. There was no significant difference in demographic datas between the groups. No statistically significant difference was observed in all intraoperative parameters. First bowel movements and postoperative abdominal and surgical wound site pain at the 24th and 36th hours were significantly lower in Group G compared to Group C. Conclusions:This study indicated that chewing gum is also efficient in early solution of postoperative ileus.