RCT Gum Chewing on Bowel Function After Abdominal Surgery in Children (GUM_RCT)

March 16, 2018 updated by: Dr Anna Shawyer, Alberta Children's Hospital

The Effect of Gum Chewing on Return of Bowel Function After Abdominal Surgery in Children Over the Age of 4 Years

Traditional postoperative care has been challenged recently to improve and speedup recovery (including the return of bowel function) such that patients can be discharged to home more quickly. This approach includes earlier mobilization of the patient, and introducing solid food sooner. Additionally, there is evidence in adults to suggest that "sham feeding" by chewing gum may also speed up bowel recovery so the patient may tolerate a solid diet earlier.

The aim of this study is to determine if gum chewing can enhance bowel recovery in children who undergo abdominal surgery.

Study Overview

Status

Withdrawn

Conditions

Intervention / Treatment

Detailed Description

After intestinal surgery, many patients suffer from a "postoperative ileus" (POI). The cause is multifactorial and can be attributed to surgery itself, the lingering effect of the anesthetic, the use of narcotics and decreased mobility of the patient.

An ileus can delay the time to full diet, thus lengthening the hospital stay of the patient - sometimes up to several weeks.

There is evidence that early drinking/eating and increased mobility may accelerate the return of bowel function. "Fast-tracking" is well documented in the adult literature; protocols have been put in place to enhance GI tract recovery and thus decrease the morbidity of a prolonged hospital stay and ileus. "Fast-tracking" has been done in pediatric patients but not in a large RCT for abdominal surgery.

Study Type

Interventional

Phase

  • Not Applicable

Contacts and Locations

This section provides the contact details for those conducting the study, and information on where this study is being conducted.

Study Locations

  • Canada
    • Alberta
      • Calgary, Alberta, Canada, T3B 6A8
        • Alberta Children's Hospital

Participation Criteria

Researchers look for people who fit a certain description, called eligibility criteria. Some examples of these criteria are a person's general health condition or prior treatments.

Eligibility Criteria

Ages Eligible for Study

4 years to 18 years (Child, Adult)

Accepts Healthy Volunteers

Yes

Genders Eligible for Study

All

Description

Inclusion Criteria:

  • children more than 4 years of age
  • children who undergo abdominal surgery (both laparoscopic or open)
  • children who have an expected postoperative length of stay more than 24 hours

Exclusion Criteria:

  • children who are less than 4 years of age
  • children who are unable to chew gum/swallow (e.g. intubated, decreased level of consciousness, cognitive or physical disability)
  • children or their parents are not willing to sign consent
  • children or their parents are unable to follow directions regarding gum chewing,
  • children who have a GI dysmotility disorder (e.g. chronic intestinal pseudo-obstruction)

Study Plan

This section provides details of the study plan, including how the study is designed and what the study is measuring.

How is the study designed?

Design Details

  • Primary Purpose: Treatment
  • Allocation: Randomized
  • Interventional Model: Parallel Assignment
  • Masking: Single

Arms and Interventions

Participant Group / Arm
Intervention / Treatment
No Intervention: No gum chewing
Usual pharmacologic treatment and post-operative care (e.g. daily visits by surgical team, antibiotics where appropriate, mobilization, advancement of diet as tolerated). Analgesia and anti-emetics will be provided (both oral and intravenous) as needed.
Active Comparator: Gum chewing

Usual pharmacologic treatment and post-operative care (e.g. daily visits by surgical team, antibiotics where appropriate, mobilization, advancement of diet as tolerated). Analgesia and anti-emetics will be provided (both oral and intravenous) as needed.

Intervention: 1 piece of sugarless gum to be chewed three times daily for 1 hour each.
Other: Gum chewing
1 piece of sugarless gum three times daily to be chewed for 1 hour each time.

What is the study measuring?

Primary Outcome Measures

Outcome Measure
Measure Description
Time Frame
composite outcome: first flatus, first bowel movement, first solid oral intake (any)
Time Frame: from time of leaving the operating room (time zero) until the time of event (time bowel movement, time flatus, time oral intake), measured in hours
documented by nurse, patient or caregiver
from time of leaving the operating room (time zero) until the time of event (time bowel movement, time flatus, time oral intake), measured in hours

Secondary Outcome Measures

Outcome Measure
Measure Description
Time Frame
length of stay
Time Frame: days
from day admission to day of discharge
days
Readmission
Time Frame: days
Need for readmission within 30 days of discharge
days
Swallowing/aspiration of gum
Time Frame: during hospital stay (from leaving the operating room until discharge)
measured as yes/no
during hospital stay (from leaving the operating room until discharge)
Allergic reaction/adverse reaction to gum
Time Frame: during hospital stay (from leaving the operating room until discharge)
measured as yes/no
during hospital stay (from leaving the operating room until discharge)
Reoperation
Time Frame: during same hospital stay (from leaving the operating room until discharge)
measured as yes/no
during same hospital stay (from leaving the operating room until discharge)
prokinetic/anti-reflux medication
Time Frame: during admission (from leaving the operating room until discharge)
measured as yes/no if need for additional medications to facilitate return of bowel function
during admission (from leaving the operating room until discharge)
Narcotic use
Time Frame: during admission (from leaving the operating room until discharge)
quantity of narcotics consumed (mg/kg total)
during admission (from leaving the operating room until discharge)

Collaborators and Investigators

This is where you will find people and organizations involved with this study.

Sponsor

Alberta Children's Hospital

Investigators

  • Principal Investigator: Anna Shawyer, MS, MSc, Alberta Children's Hospital

Publications and helpful links

The person responsible for entering information about the study voluntarily provides these publications. These may be about anything related to the study.

General Publications

Study record dates

These dates track the progress of study record and summary results submissions to ClinicalTrials.gov. Study records and reported results are reviewed by the National Library of Medicine (NLM) to make sure they meet specific quality control standards before being posted on the public website.

Study Major Dates

Study Start

November 1, 2014

Primary Completion (Anticipated)

December 1, 2015

Study Completion (Anticipated)

December 1, 2015

Study Registration Dates

First Submitted

August 20, 2014

First Submitted That Met QC Criteria

October 7, 2014

First Posted (Estimate)

October 10, 2014

Study Record Updates

Last Update Posted (Actual)

March 20, 2018

Last Update Submitted That Met QC Criteria

March 16, 2018

Last Verified

March 1, 2018

More Information

Terms related to this study

Keywords

Additional Relevant MeSH Terms

Other Study ID Numbers

  • ACH PedSurg ACS 001

This information was retrieved directly from the website clinicaltrials.gov without any changes. If you have any requests to change, remove or update your study details, please contact register@clinicaltrials.gov. As soon as a change is implemented on clinicaltrials.gov, this will be updated automatically on our website as well.

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