Chewing gum with xylitol was chewed 3 times a day for 15 minutes. A new chewing gum was chewed by the researcher in each chewing period, chewing gum was stopped at the end of 15 minutes and each quadrant was listened for 15 seconds. The onset of bowel movement was evaluated and all information was recorded in the patient information form and follow-up form. Patients who were discharged without stool output were telephoned and their stool output was questioned. Gum chewing was performed at the 2nd hour, 4th hour and 6th hour postoperatively (due to the opening of the oral cavity at 6 hours) and the collection of patient data was continued by telephone until discharge and afterwards.

Chewing gum with non-xylitol was chewed 3 times a day for 15 minutes. A new chewing gum was chewed by the researcher in each chewing period, chewing gum was stopped at the end of 15 minutes and each quadrant was listened for 15 seconds. The onset of bowel movement was evaluated and all information was recorded in the patient information form and follow-up form. Patients who were discharged without stool output were telephoned and their stool output was questioned. Gum chewing was performed at the 2nd hour, 4th hour and 6th hour postoperatively (due to the opening of the oral cavity at 6 hours) and the collection of patient data was continued by telephone until discharge and afterwards.

to standardize the control group patients, all the procedures applied in the intervention group were applied, only the gum was not chewed.

Chewing gum with xylitol was chewed 3 times a day for 15 minutes. A new chewing gum was chewed by the researcher in each chewing period, chewing gum was stopped at the end of 15 minutes and each quadrant was listened for 15 seconds. The onset of bowel movement was evaluated and all information was recorded in the patient information form and follow-up form. Patients who were discharged without stool output were telephoned and their stool output was questioned. Gum chewing was performed at the 2nd hour, 4th hour and 6th hour postoperatively (due to the opening of the oral cavity at 6 hours) and the collection of patient data was continued by telephone until discharge and afterwards.

The onset of time to first postsurgical flatus, time to first bowel sound after surgery, Time to first postsurgical defecation, first mobilization time, discharge time from hospital were evaluated and all information was recorded in the patient information form and follow-up form. Patients who were discharged without stool output were telephoned and their stool output was questioned. Gum chewing was performed at the 2nd hour, 4th hour and 6th hour postoperatively (due to the opening of the feeding at 6 hours) and the collection of patient data was continued by telephone until discharge and afterwards.

Nausea and vomiting were evaluated and all information was recorded.