<![CDATA[Delayed gastrointestinal recovery after abdominal surgery remains a postoperative problem that may affect patient comfort, oral intake, mobilization, length of stay, and complication risk. Gum chewing is a simple sham-feeding intervention that stimulates the cephalovagal reflex without directly burdening the digestive tract. This systematic review aimed to synthesize evidence on the effectiveness of gum chewing in improving gastrointestinal recovery among patients after abdominal surgery. Literature searches were conducted in PubMed, ScienceDirect, Google Scholar, DOAJ, Garuda, and SINTA for publications from 2019 to 2026. Eligible studies were primary studies involving postoperative abdominal surgery patients, gum chewing intervention, standard care or other comparison groups, and outcomes related to bowel sounds, first flatus, first defecation, nausea and vomiting, abdominal distension, postoperative ileus, or length of stay. Of 286 identified articles, 15 studies met the criteria for synthesis. Most studies reported that gum chewing accelerated first flatus, first defecation, and bowel sound recovery, with potential benefits in shortening hospital stay. Gum chewing may be considered a safe, low-cost, and feasible nursing intervention for postoperative care when applied with appropriate patient selection and clinical monitoring. ]]>
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