[Efficacy of chewing gum in post-cesarean ileus: A randomized clinical trial].

Background: The use of chewing gum postoperatively has been shown to be useful in the recovery of postoperative ileus.

Objective: To evaluate the efficacy of using chewing gum as simulated feeding for the recovery of postoperative ileus after cesarean section.

Material and methods: Randomized, controlled, double-blind clinical trial in women ≥ 18 years, during the postoperative period of cesarean section, distributed in 2 groups, group A (chewing gum, n = 63) and group B (control, n = 63). The postoperative time elapsed until the first flatus, the presence of evacuation during the postoperative period before hospital discharge, and the time elapsed until the first postoperative evacuation and length of hospital stay (HS) were evaluated.

Results: 126 patients were included. Postoperative evacuation before hospital discharge was more frequent in group A (p = 0.01); in addition, there was a shorter length of HS (p = 0.04); no patient presented nausea during the postoperative period (p = 0.0001). No difference was observed between the study groups regarding the time to onset of first flatus (p = 0.17), or the time elapsed to first postoperative evacuation (p = 0.07). The number needed to treat (NNT) was 5 and the absolute risk reduction (ARR) was 21%, for both the presence of nausea and the absence of postoperative evacuation. No patient reported complications.

Conclusions: The use of chewing gum as simulated feeding after cesarean section is effective and safe for recovery from postoperative ileus.