A prospective randomized controlled trial to evaluate effect of chewing gum on postoperative ileus in elderly patient after hip fracture

The effect of Cuminum cyminum on the return of bowel motility after abdominal surgery: a triple-blind randomized clinical trial

BACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVES

Considering the significant prevalence of ileus after abdominal surgery and the beneficial effects of Cuminum cyminum in digestive problems, this study aimed to examine whether Cuminum cyminum has any effect on the return of bowel motility after abdominal surgery.

MATERIALS AND METHODS

In this triple-blind clinical trial study, 74 patients undergoing abdominal surgery were assigned to the intervention and control groups using minimization methods. The patients in the intervention group consumed 250 mg capsules containing Cuminum cyminum extract 4 h after the surgery and another dose of the drug 1 h afterward. The patients in the control group consumed a 250 mg capsule containing starch as a placebo at hours similar to those in the intervention group. The instruments used to collect the data were a demographic questionnaire and a researcher-made checklist to assess bowel habits. The data were analyzed using SPSS-22 software.

RESULTS

The average time of gas passing in the intervention and control groups was 9.03 ± 3.41 and 11.72 ± 4.21 h, respectively. The defecation times in the intervention and control groups were 16.97 ± 5.02 and 26 ± 9.87 h, showing a significant difference between the two groups as indicated by the independent samples T-test (P > 0.001). Furthermore, abdominal pain, abdominal bloating, nausea, and vomiting were significantly less frequent in the intervention group compared to the control group as confirmed by Fisher's exact test (P > 0.001).

CONCLUSION

According to the results, the consumption of Cuminum cyminum after abdominal surgery helps to reduce the time of gas passing, defecation, and the return of bowel motility. However, additional studies need to address the effectiveness of Cuminum cyminum by changing the time and duration of its use.

Peppermint drop effect on ileus following cesarean section

Objective:

Intestine dysfunction and ileus are one of the cesarean section complications. medicinal herbs have been used to restore the postoperative intestinal function. Therefore, we decided to use a mint drop to improve bowel function after cesarean section.

Methods and Materials:

102 women enrolled in the study. The patients were simply randomized and double blindly divided into two groups of 51 patients and giving them medication (mint drops) or placebo. Then, the initial evaluation included hearing the first bowel sound, having nausea and vomiting, the first gas passing feeling time, the first defecation feeling time, and duration of hospitalization was evaluated and compared between the two groups.

Results:

The mean time to hearing the first intestinal sounds was 9/05 ± 2/44 hours in the placebo group and 5/78 ± 1/25 hours in the treatment group. The interval between surgery and the first gas passing feeling time in the placebo group was 12/24 ± 3/91 hours and in the treatment group was 7/87 ± 2/02 hours. None of the patients had nausea and vomiting.

Conclusion:

Considering the significant difference between two groups in the meantime interval to hearing the first intestinal sound, the first gas passing feeling time, and the first defecation feeling time, we conclude that the peppermint drop is more effective than placebo in improving bowel function.