• Yunhui Gong, Qianwen Zhang, Lin Qiao, Donghao Lv, Jiaying Ruan, Hongqin Chen, Junming Gong, and Gang Shi.
• *Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, West China Second University Hospital †West China Clinical Medical College, Sichuan University, Chengdu, China ‡Department of Medical Epidemiology & Biostatistics Karolinska Institute, Sweden.
• Surg Laparosc Endosc Percutan Tech. 2015 Aug 1; 25 (4): 303-6.

AbstractOur objective was to evaluate the effects of postoperative xylitol gum chewing on gastrointestinal functional recovery after laparoscopy. Altogether, 120 patients undergoing elective gynecologic laparoscopy were randomly divided into 2 groups of 60 each (final numbers: 53 controls, 56 patients). Controls underwent a routine postoperative regimen. Starting 6 hour after surgery, study patients chewed mint-flavored, sugarless xylitol gum until flatus occurred thrice a day. Other postoperative management was routine. First bowel sounds, first flatus, first bowel movement, and discharge times were recorded. Symptoms included abdominal distension, nausea, and vomiting. First flatus and first bowel sounds occurred significantly (P<0.001) earlier in the study patients. No significant differences were found for first defecation time, hospitalization duration, or mild/severe intestinal obstruction (all P>0.05). Thus, xylitol gum chewing after laparoscopy can effectively shorten the time to first flatus and helps with postoperative gastrointestinal functional recovery. It is simple, convenient, and well tolerated.

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