INTRODUCTION
 
Cesarean section is a common surgery for women with minimal complications in recent years. However, in addition to fasting before elective surgery, postoperative patients endure additional starvation due to the delayed return of bowel function known as ileus.
Postoperative ileus is a temporary disturbance in gastrointestinal motility that usually occurs after surgeries. This study aimed to investigate the effects of chewing gum and drinking coffee on increasing intestinal motility after surgery.
METHODS
This clinical trial was conducted on three groups of primiparous women admitted to Alavi Hospital in Ardabil, Iran in 2023. Group 1 (n=50) chewed two pieces of turpentine gum with sugar-free sweetener. Group 2 (n=50) drank 100 ml of coffee containing 2 g (1 teaspoon) of decaffeinated coffee without milk and sugar, and the control group (n=50) received usual care. Subsequently, the time of feeling bowel movements and the duration of the passage of the first gas and excretion between the groups were recorded and compared. Data were analyzed in SPSS software (version 21) using descriptive statistics and one-way analysis of variance.
RESULTS
There was no significant difference between the average time of the first gas passage and the first stool passage among the three groups. However, the average time of the first bowel sound in the coffee group was higher than that of the gum group and lower than that of the control group. Moreover, there was a significant difference among the three groups (P=0.048).
CONCLUSION
Based on the results, chewing gum after cesarean surgery until the time of defecation is easily tolerated by the patients and accelerates the recovery of intestinal function. Compared to other options, it is a safe, healthy, and inexpensive method with high quality.
Ethical Considerations
Compliance with ethical guidelines
This study has been approved by the research ethics committee of the Ardabil University of Medical Sciences, and registered by the ethical code of IR.ARUMS.REC.1399.420. It should also be announced that the principles of the Declaration of Helsinki have been observed, including obtaining informed consent from the participants and the confidentiality of their information.
Funding
There is no funding support.
Authors’ Contributions
Authors contributed equally to the conceptualization and writing of the article. All of the authors approved the content of the manuscript and agreed on all aspects of the work.
Conflict of Interest
Authors declared no conflict of interest.
Acknowledgments
We are grateful to all the people who provided scientific consultation for this paper.