**4.2 Postoperative ileus**

Postoperative ileus generates a high impact on morbidity, hospital stay, and costs. Vergara Fernandez and coauthors [12] conducted a randomized controlled trial of 64 patients who had elective colorectal surgery with primary anastomosis in a tertiary referral center. Patients were divided into two groups: (i) those who chewed their gums (*n* = 32) and (ii) those who had a typical postoperative recovery (*n* = 32). Chewing gum after colorectal surgery was found to be associated with less postoperative ileus and vomiting, as well as improved flatus passage within the first 48 hours after surgery (**Figure 12**).
