To investigate the effect of chewing gum on intestinal function in patients with colorectal.

From October 2015 to April 2016, 69 patients with colorectal cancer radical operation treated in our emergency surgical ward and gastrointestinal surgical ward were selected as the research object. They were randomly divided into control group (n=32) and observation group (n=37) . The patients in the control group received standard care while the patients in the observation group received standard care adding chewing gum and then observed all the patient's recovery time of anal (stoma) exhaust time, defecation time, hospitalization time, hospitalization expenses and complications.

The data of anal (stoma) exhaust time (45.91±16.36) hour, hospital stay (11.13±2.65) day of observation group were significantly lower than those of control group time (t=2.52, 2.63, P<0.05) . Comparing the complications after treatment of patients in two group, there were 19 patients suffering abdominal distension and 7 patients suffering nausea and vomit in the observation group, they were lower than the control group with significant differences (χ²=5.12, 4.38; P<0.05) . But there were 4 patients with stomach tube in observation group could not tolerate chewing gum.

Chewing gum can effectively shorten the recovery time of gastrointestinal function of colorectal cancer patients after radical operation and hospital stay. Meanwhile, it can reduce the incidence of abdominal distension, nausea and vomiting.

Colorectal neoplasms; Cancer radical operation; Intestinal function; Chewing gum