Introduction: Postoperative ileus is a common occurrence among children undergoing major operations, including gastrointestinal and spinal surgeries. Preliminary evidence in adults suggests that chewing gum plays a role in accelerating the return of postoperative gastrointestinal function. However, evidence is scarce in the paediatric population. The aim of this study was to investigate whether chewing gum has benefits for children.
Methods: We searched PubMed, Medline, Embase, and Cochrane Trials databases for randomised controlled trials that compare gum chewing with standard care after elective surgery in children from 1st Jan 2005 to 31st July 2021. We assessed the identified trials for quality and performed a systematic review and meta-analysis in accordance with PRISMA and registered in PROSPERO (CRD42022358801). The main outcome measures examined were time to flatus and stool postoperatively, time to tolerate oral intake, and length of hospital stay, which were analysed using fixed effects models. We also examined clinical complication rates and postoperative pain control.
Results: We included six eligible trials, with a total of 357 enrolled patients. The intervention was well tolerated without complications. There was no significant difference in time to flatus (-2.86 h; 95 % CI: -6.2 to 0.47 h, p = 0.09), time to stool (-6.39 h; 95 % CI: -13.9 to 1.2 h, p = 0.1), time to tolerate oral intake (-0.03 days; 95 % CI: -0.15 to 0.1 days, p = 0.68), and length of hospital stay (0.08 days; 95 % CI: -0.07 to 0.22 days, p = 0.29). Postoperative pain control (opioid consumption, pain score, nausea score) was similar in both groups (p > 0.05).
Conclusion: Current evidence demonstrates that gum chewing is not associated with earlier postoperative gastrointestinal recovery in children. Future adequately powered and well-designed trials are necessary to evaluate any clinical benefit of chewing gum for children and whether it could result differences in healthcare satisfaction.
Level Of Evidence: I.
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http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.jpedsurg.2023.10.020 | DOI Listing |
BMC Oral Health
January 2025
Department of General and Liberal Studies, School of Basic and Biomedical Sciences, University of Health and Allied Sciences, Ho, Ghana.
Background: There is a paucity of data on oral health problems among the residents of Fanteakwa districts (South and North) in the Eastern region of Ghana. Therefore, this study assessed the prevalence and factors associated with self-reported oral health problems in the Fanteakwa districts of Ghana.
Methods: This community-based cross-sectional study targeted residents of the towns of the Fanteakwa districts, who have not had any dental care visit in the past six months preceding the study.
J Gastrointest Surg
January 2025
Hospital José Carrasco Arteaga, Cuenca, Ecuador.
Background: Postoperative ileus is a surgical complication that affects intestinal motility. There are measures to reduce this problem, but not all have conclusive current evidence.
Objective: To determine which measures such as coffee, chewing gum, electro-acupuncture, Daikenchuto (DKT) and prokinetic agents are most effective in reducing postoperative ileus in patients undergoing gastrointestinal surgeries.
Life (Basel)
December 2024
Department of Anesthesiology and Pain Medicine, Seoul St. Mary's Hospital, College of Medicine, The Catholic University of Korea, 222, Banpo-daero, Seocho-gu, Seoul 06591, Republic of Korea.
Background: Postoperative nausea and vomiting (PONV) remains a frequent and uncomfortable complication in women undergoing robotic gynecological procedures. Despite the use of various preventive strategies, PONV continues to negatively impact recovery and increase healthcare expenses. This study aimed to evaluate whether the preoperative use of sugar-free chewing gum could effectively minimize the dependence on anti-emetic drugs in women undergoing robot-assisted laparoscopic surgery for uterine myomas.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFJ Hazard Mater
December 2024
Institute for Global Food Security, School of Biological Sciences, Queen's University Belfast, Belfast, United Kingdom; Material and Advanced Technologies for Healthcare, Queen's University of Belfast, 18-30 Malone Road, Belfast BT9 5DL, United Kingdom. Electronic address:
Microplastics (MPs) and Nanoplastics (NPs), a burgeoning health hazard, often go unnoticed due to suboptimal analytical tools, making their way inside our bodies through various means. Surface Enhanced Raman Spectroscopy (SERS), although is utilized in detecting NPs, challenges arise at low concentrations due to their low Raman cross section and inability to situate within hotspots owing to their ubiquitous size and shape. This study presents an innovative and cost-effective approach employing household metallic foils (aluminium and copper) as nanoparticle-on-film (NPoF) substrates for targeting such analytes.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFFront Syst Neurosci
November 2024
Department of Preventive Dentistry, School of Dentistry, Kyungpook National University, Daegu, Republic of Korea.
Introduction: Chewing has been reported to enhance cognitive function through the increase in cerebral blood flow. However, the mechanisms linking cerebral blood flow increase to metabolic changes in the brain affecting cognition remain unclear. We hypothesized that glutathione (GSH) plays a pivotal role in these mechanisms.
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