Chewing gum
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Medpedia on Chewing gum (Less technical, good quality control)
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Made from either natural latex or synthetic rubber. Mixed in with flavourings, sugars (e.g. xylitol or sorbitol) and/or artificial sweeteners. In large quantities, these synthetic sugars can cause chronic diarrhoea.[1]
The use of chewing gum prior to general anaesthesia is regarded as some as the equivalent of having consumed clear fluids and may require, in the elective setting, 2 hours to allow stomach emptying prior to intubation.
Chewing gum has been used as a potential method of stimulating the gut in post-operative ileus.[2]
In Parkinson's disease it has long been recommended to those with excess dribbling of saliva and is now known to both increase the frequency and decreased the latency of swallowing[3].
References
- ↑ Bauditz J, Norman K, Biering H, Lochs H, Pirlich M. Severe weight loss caused by chewing gum. BMJ (Clinical research ed.). 2008 Jan 12; 336(7635):96-7.(Link to article – subscription may be required.)
- ↑ Schuster R, Grewal N, Greaney GC, Waxman K. Gum chewing reduces ileus after elective open sigmoid colectomy. Archives of surgery (Chicago, Ill. : 1960). 2006 Feb; 141(2):174-6.(Link to article – subscription may be required.)
- ↑ South AR, Somers SM, Jog MS. Gum chewing improves swallow frequency and latency in Parkinson patients: a preliminary study. Neurology. 2010 Apr 13; 74(15):1198-202.(Link to article – subscription may be required.)
