Role of Gum Chewing in Post-operative Gut Motility After Cesarean Section
Trial Snapshot
- Phase
- Not Applicable
- Status
- Completed
- Sponsor
- Enrollment
- 60
- Locations
- 1
- Primary Endpoint
- Mean Time of Passage of First flatus
Study Overview
Brief Summary
Many women deliver by caesarean section nowadays. The proportion of women who deliver by caesarean section ranges from 15% to over 50%, in some countries. After a caesarean section it is common for the bowel to stop working for several hours or days. Although this usually resolves by itself in a few days, it may be very uncomfortable. The retained gases and stools can cause the mother's belly to become swollen and painful with cramps and she may feel nauseated and vomit so she is not able to eat. She may need additional medications to ease these symptoms and her hospital discharge may be delayed. The use of medications that relieve pain during labour and painkillers following the surgery can also delay bowel function. Small intestine activity after abdominal operations returns to normal function within a few hours, gastric activity returns to normal within 24-48 hours, and colon activity returns to normal within 48-72 hours. Due to the delayed motility of the gastrointestinal system in the postoperative period, gas and secretions accumulate in the stomach and small and large intestines, which causes abdominal distension, nausea, vomiting, and pain, all of which negatively affect the comfort level of the patients. Chewing sugar-free gum after cesarean section can promote the early recovery of gastrointestinal function, but the side effects of chewing gum are still unclear, which needs more clinical, large sample and high-quality studies to further verify.
Study Design
- Study Type
- Interventional
- Allocation
- Randomized
- Intervention Model
- Parallel
- Primary Purpose
- Treatment
- Masking
- None
Eligibility Criteria
- Ages
- 18 Years to 40 Years (Adult)
- Sex
- Female
- Accepts Healthy Volunteers
- Yes
Inclusion Criteria
- •Females of age 18-40 years
- •Parity <5
- •Presenting at gestational age ≥ 37 weeks,
- •Undergoing cesarean section (as per operational definition) under spinal anesthesia
Exclusion Criteria
- •Females with history of chronic constipation (medical record)
- •Females with obstructed labour, hypothyroidism (TSH>5IU)
- •Females with intra operative complications such as bowel injury, history of gastrointestinal surgery, and water and electrolyte disturbances (on medical record), abnormal placenta (accrete, increta, previa, abruption)
Arms & Interventions
Group A participants who were given chewing gum 6 hours after the surgery, three times a day
In group A participants were given chewing gum 6 hours after the surgery, three times a day till passage of flatus
Intervention: Sugar free chew gum (Dietary Supplement)
Group B participants who were kept nil per oral till bowel sounds were audible
In group B, participants were managed as per standard routine protocol i.e. allowing oral when gut sound were audible
Intervention: Nil Per Oral (Other)
Outcomes
Primary Outcomes
Mean Time of Passage of First flatus
Time Frame: 06 Months
In group A, females were given chewing gum 6 hours after the surgery, three times a day till passage of flatus. In group B, females were managed as per standard routine protocol i.e. allowing oral when bowel sounds are audible. Mean time of passage of first flatus since procedure was noted in terms of hours.
Secondary Outcomes
- Mean Duration of Hospital Stay(06 Months)
Investigators
Dr Maryam Aslam
Head of Department Gynaecology and Obstetrics
Combined Military Hospital Gujranwala