Paper Title
Effectiveness of Gum-Chewing on Reduction of Postoperative Ileus among the Patient Following Abdominal Surgery at Surgical Units of BPKIHS Nepal

Abstract
Background: Postoperative ileus occurs due to the reduction of intestinal activity and lack of activity of the parasympathetic nervous system. Chewing gum acts by stimulating intestinal motility through the cephalic vagal reflex. Objective: To evaluate the effectiveness of Gum-chewing on the reduction of postoperative ileus among the patient following abdominal surgery at surgical units of BPKIHS. Methods and materials: Quasi-experimental research design was carried out among 40 patients using a consecutive sampling technique at surgical units of BPKIHS among the patients who had undergone abdominal surgery. They were assigned to the experimental (n=20) and control(n=20) groups using lottery method. Experimental groups were given sugarless chewing gum for duration of 30 minutes at an interval of every 8 hours until they pass their first flatulence. Control groups were given standard postoperative care only. Baseline Performa and assessment record sheet was used to collect data. Collected data were analyzed using various descriptive and inferential statistics. Results: The study findings revealed a significant reduction of postoperative Ileus in gum-chewing group as compared to control group (p >0.05). The median time to presence of first bowel sound, passage of first flatus, passage of first defecation after surgery among experimental and control groupwas 36(IQR=24to52.5) and 51(IQR=36to75) hours, 40.75(IQR=24to61.75) and 56.75(IQR=46.63to83.5)hours, 60.5(IQR=44.25to79) and 73.5(IQR=62.75to102) hours respectively. No association was seen between socio-demographic variables and reduction of postoperative ileus (p>0.05). Conclusion: The research showed that gum-chewing was effective in the reduction of postoperative ileus following abdominal surgery. Keywords - Abdominal surgery, Effectiveness, Gum-chewing, Postoperative ileus