1 2 • O U T PA T I E N T S U R G E R Y M A G A Z I N E • F E B R U A R Y 2 0 2 0
D
uring
abdominal
surgeries,
surgeons manipu-
late the bowel,
which can make a
patient have an
ileus that delays
the return of bowel
functions. To coun-
teract this, some of
our surgeons like
to give patients a
stick of gum
(sugar-free for those with diabetes) to enhance the early recovery of
bowel functions following surgery. Chewing gum is a form of "sham
feeding" that essentially tricks the gut into thinking it's being fed,
which speeds up bowel functions, so we keep gum in stock for
post-op nurses to hand out. Use of the practice started with abdomi-
nal and bowel patients, but has expanded into urology and other
types of surgeries.
Lisa Swenson, MS, BSN, RN, ONC
UPMC Pinnacle
Harrisburg, Pa.
swensonlm@upmc.edu
• SOMETHING TO CHEW ON Nurses at UPMC Pinnacle hand out gum to patients
to help enhance their recoveries.
STICKY SOLUTION
Gum Speeds Up Post-Op Digestive Function
UPMC
Pinnacle
Ideas Work
That
