Gum chewing in patients with subtotal gastrectomy

Background: The purpose of this study was to report the efficacy of gum chewing (GC) in gastric cancer patients who underwent D2 subtotal gastrectomy. Patients and Methods: 26 patients were enrolled in this study. 13 patients received GC after D2 subtotal gastrectomy (group A) and 13 did not (group B). All patients had received epidural pain control. The mean times to first bowel movement, orally feeding, passage of stools, and hospital discharge as well as cost of hospitalization were recorded. Results: Between the two groups, there were no significant differences with respect to preoperative clinical characteristics, stage and operative parameters. The times to first flatus and passage of stools and the hospital stay were shorter in group A. Also the cost of hospitalization was lower in group A, but there were no significant differences. Conclusion: Although GC is a safe, non-expansive and physiologic method, this study suggests that there is no significant improvement of postoperative bowel motility of gastric cancer patients who underwent D2 gastrectomy. This implies that the cephalic-vagal reflex plays a major role in sham feeding.