After open-heart surgery, the effect of chewing gum on intestine functions, postoperative pain, and early discharge from a hospital

Objective: This study was conducted to investigate the effect of chewing gum after surgery on bowel function, pain level and early discharge in patients who underwent open heart surgery. Materials and Methods: The study was carried out experimentally between June 2021 and December 2021, with a total of 48 patients who had open heart surgery at the Health Sciences University Bursa Yüksek İhtisas Training and Research Hospital Heart Center. The study group consisted of n:24 (50%) patients and the control group consisted of n:24 (50%) patients. The data were obtained with data collection forms prepared by the researchers. Research data were analyzed using the JASP package program. Shapiro Wilk test, Mann Whitney U test, Wilcoxon test, Yates, Fisher and Pearson chi-square tests were used in data analysis. Results: The mean time to first flatus (control group 31.73 ± 11.01 and gum chewing group 21.33 ± 5.53) and the mean time to first defecation (control group 95.88 ± 25.67 and gum chewing group 69.60 ± 17.35) a statistically significant difference was found. In chewing gum group; before chewing gum, mean value to bowel sounds (4. hour 5,33 ± 1,31, 6. hour 6,33 ± 2,35, 8. hour 6,50 ± 2,43, 10. hour 7,63 ± 2,32) and mean value to pain levels (4. hour 5,50 ± 2,04, 6. hour 5,42 ± 1,89, 8. hour 5,21 ± 1,91, 10. hour 4,83 ± 1,95) after chewing gum, mean value to bowel sounds (4. hour 8,58 ± 1,72, 6. hour 10,21 ± 3,13, 8. hour 10,38 ± 2,99, 10. hour 12,29 ± 2,53) and mean value to pain levels (4. hour 4,29 ± 1,85, 6. hour 4,63 ± 1,81, 8. hour 4,17 ± 1,93, 10. hour 3,42 ± 2,32) statistically significant increase in bowel sounds and significant decrease in pain levels. There was no statistically significant difference in terms of length of hospital stay between the groups, therefore early discharge. xiii Conclusion: According to this study, it was concluded that gum-chewing after open heart surgery is effective in increasing bowel functions and reducing postoperative pain, but has no statistical effective on early discharge. Keywords: Chewing gum, Heart surgery, Intestine, Pain, Patient discharge.