Gum chewing reduces postoperative ileus? A systematic review and meta-analysis.

Background: An important cause of delayed recovery from intestinal surgery is postoperative ileus. Gum chewing is a form of sham feeding, which could encourage gastrointestinal motility through cephalic-vagal stimulation.

Methods: We sought to identify all randomized controlled trials comparing gum chewing with standard care after elective intestinal surgery.