Benefit of chewing gum vs metoclopramide in the prevention of postoperative ileus after laparotomy

Abstract

Objetive: Analyze the benefit of chewing gum and metoclopramide in the prevention of postoperative ileus after laparotomy, Hospital Victorino Santaella Ruiz, October – November 2009. Patients and method: A prospective clinical trial carried out on 60 post-operatives of laparotomy patients. They were randomly assigned into three groups: metoclopramide, chewing gum and control group. The beginning of bowel sounds, flatus, bowel movements and complete food tolerance were recorded in each group. The data were analysed using the one-way variance method and the multiple comparisons test. Results: With respect to control group, the chewing gum group showed some statistical advantage when the factors, bowel sounds and complete food tolerance were compared (p<0,05) and (p<0.02) respectively. Metoclopramide showed advantage over the control group in regard to flatus factor (p<0,05). For the bowel movement factor, both therapeutic groups showed identical superiority compared to control group (p<0.02). There was no statistical difference between metoclopramide and chewing gum groups. Conclusion: There were not statistical differences between both therapeutic groups; nevertheless, when both of them were compared individually with the control group, the chewing gum group showed cuantitatively more advantages than metoclopramide group in the prevention of posoperative ileus. Based on the previously described and other advantages as absence of side
effects, low cost and easy accessibility we can recommend the use of chewing gum in the prevention of postoperative ileus.