Role of Gum Chewing in Post-operative Gut Motility After Cesarean Section

NCT06952985 | Completed

• 1 other identifier: 275
• Study Type: interventional
• Target: 60
• Locations: 1 country
• Sites: 1

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.

Conditions

Cesarean Section; Gum Chewing; Gut Motility

Outcome Measures

Primary Outcomes (1)

• Mean Time of Passage of First flatus

  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.

  06 Months

Secondary Outcomes (1)

• Mean Duration of Hospital Stay

  06 Months

Study Arms (2)

Group A participants who were given chewing gum 6 hours after the surgery, three times a day

ACTIVE COMPARATOR

In group A participants were given chewing gum 6 hours after the surgery, three times a day till passage of flatus

Dietary Supplement: Sugar free chew gum

Group B participants who were kept nil per oral till bowel sounds were audible

ACTIVE COMPARATOR

In group B, participants were managed as per standard routine protocol i.e. allowing oral when gut sound were audible

Other: Nil Per Oral

Interventions

Sugar free chew gum DIETARY_SUPPLEMENT

Chew gum has a role in ERAS protocol which is significant in early post operative recovery as compared to normal routine care methods

Group A participants who were given chewing gum 6 hours after the surgery, three times a day

Nil Per Oral OTHER

According to classic protocols patient were kept nil per oral till bowel sounds were audible

Group B participants who were kept nil per oral till bowel sounds were audible

Eligibility Criteria

• Age: 18 Years - 40 Years
• Gender Eligibility Details: Females only
• Healthy Volunteers: Yes
• Age Groups: Adult (18-64)

You may qualify if:

• Females of age 18-40 years
• Parity \<5
• Presenting at gestational age ≥ 37 weeks,
• Undergoing cesarean section (as per operational definition) under spinal anesthesia

You may not qualify if:

• 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)

Sponsors & Collaborators

• Dr Maryam Aslam: lead
• CMH Gujranwala: collaborator

Study Sites (1)

CMH Gujranwala

Gujranwala, Punjab Province, 52230, Pakistan

Location

Study Design

• Study Type: interventional
• Phase: not applicable
• Allocation: RANDOMIZED
• Masking: NONE
• Purpose: TREATMENT
• Intervention Model: PARALLEL
• Sponsor Type: OTHER
• Responsible Party: SPONSOR INVESTIGATOR
• PI Title: Head of Department Gynaecology and Obstetrics

Study Record Dates

• First Submitted: April 20, 2025
• First Posted: May 1, 2025
• Study Start: May 1, 2024
• Primary Completion: October 31, 2024
• Study Completion: October 31, 2024
• Last Updated: May 1, 2025

Record last verified: 2025-04

Data Sharing

• IPD Sharing: Will not share

Locations

PA (1)