Postoperative IleusNCT07425249
Impact of Chewing Gum on Postoperative Gut Motility in Gastrointestinal Surgery Patients
A study testing Chewing Gum in people with Postoperative Ileus and Delayed Gastrointestinal Motility, run by Khyber Medical University Peshawar at 1 site in Pakistan.
Trial summary
Postoperative ileus (POI) is a frequent complication after abdominal surgery, leading to delayed gastrointestinal motility, prolonged hospital stay, and increased patient discomfort. Read more about this study
- Who is it for?
- Ages 17 to 85 years
- Conditions the study is for
- Postoperative Ileus, Delayed Gastrointestinal Motility, Postoperative Gut Dysfunction
- What is being tested?
- Chewing Gum
- Type of treatment
- Lifestyle or therapy programme
- Could I receive a placebo?
- No, everyone receives an active treatment
- How many people
- 96 participants
- Where
- 1 sitePakistan
- Study dates
- 1 Jan 2026to 29 Oct 2026
- Phase
- Interventional
- Are there results?
- Not yet: the study is under way
Key requirements
Who can take part, as listed by the sponsor. Only the study team can confirm whether you are eligible, so take this list to your doctor.
- Ages 17 to 85 years
- All sexes
- No healthy volunteers
- Child, Adult, Older adult
Who may be able to join
- Age between 17 and 85 years.
- Patients of either gender.
- Undergoing open gastrointestinal surgical procedures (elective or emergency).
- Willing to participate and able to provide informed consent.
Who cannot join
- Patients with metabolic or endocrine disorders (diabetes mellitus, hypothyroidism, or hyperthyroidism).
- Patients with renal disease or electrolyte imbalance.
- Patients with chronic constipation or neuromuscular disorders.
- Patients with substance abuse or drug addiction.
- Patients receiving medications affecting gut motility (calcium channel blockers or antiepileptic drugs).
- Patients with dental prosthesis or undergoing laparoscopic gastrointestinal surgery.
Trial locations and contacts
1 site in 1 country. Contact the study team or a site near you to ask about taking part.
Pakistan1 site, 1 recruiting
- Recruiting
Khyber Teaching Hospital
Peshawar, KPK, 25000
Dr Ali Raza, MBBS, dralicenna022@gmail.com
Dr Munir Ahmed, FCPS, drmunir29@gmail.com
About this study
Official title: Impact of Chewing Gum on Postoperative Gut Motility in Gastrointestinal Surgery Patients: A Randomized Controlled Trial at Khyber Teaching Hospital, Peshawar, Pakistan
Postoperative ileus (POI) is a frequent complication after abdominal surgery, leading to delayed gastrointestinal motility, prolonged hospital stay, and increased patient discomfort. Chewing gum, as a form of sham feeding, has been proposed to stimulate gut motility through vagal stimulation and increased gastrointestinal secretions. This randomized controlled trial aims to assess the effect of chewing gum on early recovery of gastrointestinal motility in patients undergoing open gastrointestinal surgery.
Read the detailed description
This prospective randomized controlled trial will evaluate whether chewing gum reduces the time to return of bowel function after gastrointestinal surgery. Ninety-six adult patients undergoing open gastrointestinal surgery will be randomly allocated into intervention and control groups using block randomization. The intervention group will receive glucose-containing chewing gum starting six hours postoperatively. Outcomes measured include time to first bowel sounds, passage of flatus, and defecation. Statistical analysis will assess differences between groups to determine the efficacy of chewing gum in preventing postoperative ileus.
- Being tested
- Chewing Gum
- Keywords
- Postoperative Ileus, Gastrointestinal Motility, Enhanced Recovery After Surgery (ERAS), Postoperative Recovery
What participants receive
What participants receive. In a randomised study each person is assigned to one group by chance.
Chewing GumBehavioural
Participants will chew glucose/carbohydrate-containing chewing gum for 15 minutes, three times daily, starting 6 hours after surgery and continuing for 48 hours or until the first passage of flatus or stool, in addition to standard postoperative care.
| Study group | Role | What they receive |
|---|---|---|
| Chewing Gum Intervention Group | Experimental | Participants will receive glucose/carbohydrate-containing chewing gum starting 6 hours after surgery. Patients will chew gum for 15 minutes, three times daily, for 48 hours or until first passage of flatus or stool, in addition to standard postoperative care. Receives: Behavioral: Chewing Gum |
| Standard Care Control Group | No intervention | Participants will receive standard postoperative care without chewing gum intervention. |
What is being measured
The primary outcome is the main question the study is designed to answer.
Time to First Passage of Flatus
Time interval (in hours) from the end of surgery to the first postoperative passage of flatus, assessed by patient self-report and clinical evaluation.
Measured: Within 48 hours postoperatively
Time to First Defecation
Time interval (in hours) from the end of surgery to the first postoperative bowel movement (defecation), assessed by patient self-report and clinical evaluation.
Measured: Within 48 hours postoperatively
Timeline
From the start of the study to its completion; the mark is today. Estimated dates are the sponsor’s plan.
- First posted20 Feb 2026
- Study start1 Jan 2026
- Primary completion25 Aug 2026 (estimated)
- Study completion29 Oct 2026 (estimated)
Resources
- Official record on ClinicalTrials.govThe registry entry this page is built from, with its full change history.
- Publications (5)Papers the sponsor has linked to this study.
- Other trials for Postoperative IleusStudies of the same condition, open and under way.
- What the trial phases meanHow a treatment moves from first tests in people to approval.
More details
For doctors and researchers: how the study is designed, who runs it, and its registry IDs.
Study design
- Study type
- Interventional
- Phase
- Phase N/A
- Primary purpose
- Prevention
- Allocation
- Randomised
- Intervention model
- Parallel groups
- Model description
- Participants will be randomly assigned to two parallel groups. An intervention group receiving chewing gum and a control group receiving standard postoperative care without chewing gum.
- Masking
- None (open label)
- Enrolment
- 96 participants (estimated)
Sponsor and investigators
- Lead sponsor
- Khyber Medical University Peshawar
- Sponsor type
- University, hospital or other
- Collaborators
- Khyber Teaching Hospital
- Responsible party
- Sponsor
- Investigators
- Dr Ali Raza, MBBS, Principal investigator, Khyber Teaching HospitalDr Munir Ahmed, FCPS, Principal investigator, Khyber Teaching Hospital
IDs, dates and publications
- ClinicalTrials.gov ID
- NCT07425249
- Sponsor's protocol ID
- KMU/DIR/CTU/2025/14
- Status last verified
- Feb 2026
- First submitted
- 16 Feb 2026
- Last updated
- 20 Feb 2026
- Results posted
- No
- Data monitoring committee
- Yes
- FDA-regulated drug
- No
- FDA-regulated device
- No
- Individual data sharing
- Yes: De-identified individual participant data (IPD) related to study outcomes, baseline characteristics, and statistical analyses will be shared with qualified researchers upon reasonable request, after publication of the primary study results. Data will be shared to promote transparency and facilitate further research while ensuring participant confidentiality.
Publications
Wells CI, Milne TGE, Seo SHB, Chapman SJ, Vather R, Bissett IP, O'Grady G. Post-operative ileus: definitions, mechanisms and controversies. ANZ J Surg. 2022 Jan;92(1-2):62-68. doi: 10.1111/ans.17297. Epub 2021 Oct 22.
PubMed 34676664Ge W, Chen G, Ding YT. Effect of chewing gum on the postoperative recovery of gastrointestinal function. Int J Clin Exp Med. 2015 Aug 15;8(8):11936-42. eCollection 2015.
PubMed 26550107Hsu YC, Szu SY. Effects of Gum Chewing on Recovery From Postoperative Ileus: A Randomized Clinical Trail. J Nurs Res. 2022 Oct 1;30(5):e233. doi: 10.1097/jnr.0000000000000510.
PubMed 35951432Lew SL, Cheng LJ, Yap SY, Liaw YQ, Park J, Lau ST. Effect of chewing gum on clinical outcomes and postoperative recovery in adult patients after gastrointestinal surgery: an umbrella review. Int J Surg. 2025 May 1;111(5):3481-3493. doi: 10.1097/JS9.0000000000002332.
PubMed 40072350Roslan F, Kushairi A, Cappuyns L, Daliya P, Adiamah A. The Impact of Sham Feeding with Chewing Gum on Postoperative Ileus Following Colorectal Surgery: a Meta-Analysis of Randomised Controlled Trials. J Gastrointest Surg. 2020 Nov;24(11):2643-2653. doi: 10.1007/s11605-019-04507-3. Epub 2020 Feb 26.
PubMed 32103455
Study at a glance
From the registry record, last updated by the sponsor on 20 Feb 2026. Recruitment status is as the sponsor reported it: confirm with the study team.
- Official title
- Impact of Chewing Gum on Postoperative Gut Motility in Gastrointestinal Surgery Patients: A Randomized Controlled Trial at Khyber Teaching Hospital, Peshawar, Pakistan
- ClinicalTrials.gov ID
- NCT07425249
- Acronym / sponsor ID
- KMU/DIR/CTU/2025/14
- Keywords
- Postoperative Ileus, Gastrointestinal Motility, Enhanced Recovery After Surgery (ERAS), Postoperative Recovery
- Study type
- Interventional
- Recruitment status
- Recruiting
- Enrolment
- 96 participants (estimated)
- Lead sponsor
- Khyber Medical University PeshawarUniversity, hospital or other
- Collaborators
- Khyber Teaching Hospital
- Study start
- 1 Jan 2026 (actual)
- Primary completion
- 25 Aug 2026 (estimated)
- Study completion
- 29 Oct 2026 (estimated)
- First posted
- 20 Feb 2026 (actual)
- Results
- Not posted in the source record
Clinical summary
The research question as the sponsor registered it. This describes what the study plans to test, not what it found.
Postoperative ileus (POI) is a frequent complication after abdominal surgery, leading to delayed gastrointestinal motility, prolonged hospital stay, and increased patient discomfort. Chewing gum, as a form of sham feeding, has been proposed to stimulate gut motility through vagal stimulation and increased gastrointestinal secretions. This randomized controlled trial aims to assess the effect of chewing gum on early recovery of gastrointestinal motility in patients undergoing open gastrointestinal surgery.
Detailed description
This prospective randomized controlled trial will evaluate whether chewing gum reduces the time to return of bowel function after gastrointestinal surgery. Ninety-six adult patients undergoing open gastrointestinal surgery will be randomly allocated into intervention and control groups using block randomization. The intervention group will receive glucose-containing chewing gum starting six hours postoperatively. Outcomes measured include time to first bowel sounds, passage of flatus, and defecation. Statistical analysis will assess differences between groups to determine the efficacy of chewing gum in preventing postoperative ileus.
Study design
- Primary purpose
- Prevention
- Allocation
- Randomised
- Intervention model
- Parallel groups
- Masking
- None (open label)
- Number of arms
- 2
- Model description
- Participants will be randomly assigned to two parallel groups. An intervention group receiving chewing gum and a control group receiving standard postoperative care without chewing gum.
| Arm | Type | Receives |
|---|---|---|
| Chewing Gum Intervention Group | Experimental | Behavioral: Chewing GumParticipants will receive glucose/carbohydrate-containing chewing gum starting 6 hours after surgery. Patients will chew gum for 15 minutes, three times daily, for 48 hours or until first passage of flatus or stool, in addition to standard postoperative care. |
| Standard Care Control Group | No intervention | –Participants will receive standard postoperative care without chewing gum intervention. |
Who may qualify
- Ages
- 17 to 85 years
- Sex
- All
- Healthy volunteers
- Not accepted
- Age groups
- Child, Adult, Older adult
Key inclusion criteria (4 listed)
- Age between 17 and 85 years.
- Patients of either gender.
- Undergoing open gastrointestinal surgical procedures (elective or emergency).
- Willing to participate and able to provide informed consent.
Key exclusion criteria (6 listed)
- Patients with metabolic or endocrine disorders (diabetes mellitus, hypothyroidism, or hyperthyroidism).
- Patients with renal disease or electrolyte imbalance.
- Patients with chronic constipation or neuromuscular disorders.
- Patients with substance abuse or drug addiction.
- Patients receiving medications affecting gut motility (calcium channel blockers or antiepileptic drugs).
Eligibility is decided by the study team after screening; this overview does not establish that a patient qualifies. Full inclusion and exclusion criteria.
Interventions
| Intervention | Type | Arms |
|---|---|---|
| Chewing GumParticipants will chew glucose/carbohydrate-containing chewing gum for 15 minutes, three times daily, starting 6 hours after surgery and continuing for 48 hours or until the first passage of flatus or stool, in addition to standard postoperative care. | Behavioural | Chewing Gum Intervention Group |
Primary outcome
Time to First Passage of Flatus
Time frame: Within 48 hours postoperatively
Time interval (in hours) from the end of surgery to the first postoperative passage of flatus, assessed by patient self-report and clinical evaluation.
Time to First Defecation
Time frame: Within 48 hours postoperatively
Time interval (in hours) from the end of surgery to the first postoperative bowel movement (defecation), assessed by patient self-report and clinical evaluation.
Results and safety
This study is still under way. Results are not available in the source record yet.
Research links
- Official record on ClinicalTrials.govLast updated by the sponsor 20 Feb 2026.
- Background: PubMed 34676664Wells CI, Milne TGE, Seo SHB, Chapman SJ, Vather R, Bissett IP, O'Grady G. Post-operative ileus: definitions, mechanisms and controversies. ANZ J Surg. 2022 Jan;92(1-2):62-68. doi: 10.1111/ans.17297. Epub 2021 Oct 22.
- Background: PubMed 26550107Ge W, Chen G, Ding YT. Effect of chewing gum on the postoperative recovery of gastrointestinal function. Int J Clin Exp Med. 2015 Aug 15;8(8):11936-42. eCollection 2015.
- Background: PubMed 35951432Hsu YC, Szu SY. Effects of Gum Chewing on Recovery From Postoperative Ileus: A Randomized Clinical Trail. J Nurs Res. 2022 Oct 1;30(5):e233. doi: 10.1097/jnr.0000000000000510.
- Background: PubMed 40072350Lew SL, Cheng LJ, Yap SY, Liaw YQ, Park J, Lau ST. Effect of chewing gum on clinical outcomes and postoperative recovery in adult patients after gastrointestinal surgery: an umbrella review. Int J Surg. 2025 May 1;111(5):3481-3493. doi: 10.1097/JS9.0000000000002332.
- Background: PubMed 32103455Roslan F, Kushairi A, Cappuyns L, Daliya P, Adiamah A. The Impact of Sham Feeding with Chewing Gum on Postoperative Ileus Following Colorectal Surgery: a Meta-Analysis of Randomised Controlled Trials. J Gastrointest Surg. 2020 Nov;24(11):2643-2653. doi: 10.1007/s11605-019-04507-3. Epub 2020 Feb 26.
- Individual participant dataSharing planned: Yes. De-identified individual participant data (IPD) related to study outcomes, baseline characteristics, and statistical analyses will be shared with qualified researchers upon reasonable request, after publication of the primary study results. Data will be shared to promote transparency and facilitate further research while ensuring participant confidentiality.
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Referral and contact
AzTrials does not enrol participants or take referrals. Contact the study team or a site listed below; they decide who can take part.
Dr Ali Raza, MBBS principal investigator
Khyber Teaching Hospital
Dr Munir Ahmed, FCPS principal investigator
Khyber Teaching Hospital
1 site in 1 country: see every site and its status.
Questions about this trial
What is this clinical trial studying?
A study testing Chewing Gum in people with Postoperative Ileus and Delayed Gastrointestinal Motility, run by Khyber Medical University Peshawar at 1 site in Pakistan.
The full registered description is in the About this study section and the official record.
Who may be eligible to take part?
The sponsor lists 4 inclusion and 6 exclusion criteria. Eligibility is decided by the study team after screening, so read the full criteria and contact a listed site.
Is this clinical trial currently recruiting?
The record says: looking for participants now, as of the sponsor's last update on 20 Feb 2026. Status can change between updates, so confirm with the study contact before making plans.
Where is the study taking place?
The record lists 1 site in Pakistan. Whether a site is taking part right now should be confirmed with that site. See every site.
What are the possible benefits and risks?
They depend on the study and the treatment, and no study can promise a benefit. The study team explains the known risks during informed consent, before anyone joins; the record itself does not list them.
Are results available for this study?
This study is still under way. Results are not available in the source record yet.
How can a doctor refer a patient or contact the research team?
Contact Dr Ali Raza, MBBS (+923452479895, dralicenna022@gmail.com), or a site near the patient. AzTrials does not enrol participants or take referrals.
What does the primary outcome measure?
Time to First Passage of Flatus (time frame: Within 48 hours postoperatively). The study lists 2 primary outcomes in all. It is what the study was designed to measure, not a finding.
Where can I read the original study information?
On the ClinicalTrials.gov record for NCT07425249, which also lists 5 linked publications.
Does a listing mean the treatment is approved or proven to work?
No. A listing means the study is registered. It does not show that the treatment is safe, works, or is approved by a regulator.
How often is this information updated?
AzTrials copies changed records from ClinicalTrials.gov every night and reloads the whole registry every week. The sponsor last updated this record on 20 Feb 2026.