Acta Chir Belg
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Randomized Controlled Trial Multicenter Study Comparative Study
Health-related quality of life and cost-effectiveness analysis of gum chewing in patients undergoing colorectal surgery: results of a randomized controlled trial.
Postoperative ileus (POI) and anastomotic leakage (AL) following colorectal surgery severely increase healthcare costs and decrease quality of life. This study evaluates the effects of reducing POI and AL via perioperative gum chewing compared to placebo (control) on in-hospital costs, health-related quality of life (HRQoL), and assesses cost-effectiveness. ⋯ Reducing POI and AL via gum chewing reduced costs for ward stay, but did not affect overall in-hospital costs, HRQoL, or mapped utilities. More studies with adequate sample sizes using validated questionnaires at standardized time points are needed.