Figure 1.

CONSORT diagram for the trial. *Did not undergo colorectal resection (7 patients), participating in another trial (1), had been operated on as an emergency (1), or deemed unsuitable based on intraoperative problems and subsequent intensive therapy unit admission (1). †On at least one occasion according to chewing gum log. ‡Chewing gum log showed that: gum had been received but there was no information on whether or not it had been chewed (4); gum had not been received (4, 1 of whom had not been given gum in error); no information on whether or not gum had been received or chewed (15). §Chewing gum provided in error. ¶Questionnaire on use of gum in standard care group indicated that gum had been chewed at least once during days 1–5 after surgery