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Recruiting NCT06108011

Effect of Lollipop on Postoperative Gastrointestinal Recovery in Children

No phase Interventional Ileus Postoperative

For patients and families

In plain language

An automatic summary of structured registry data. It is an orientation aid, not a substitute for the official protocol or a physician assessment.

What is being studied
The protocol lists: Lollipop.
Who it may be relevant to
Registry conditions: Ileus Postoperative. Basic parameters: up to 18 years · All.
What needs checking
Age, condition and sex are only basic indicators. Prior treatment, laboratory values and other mandatory requirements appear in the eligibility criteria below.
Where it takes place
Hong Kong
Next step
Save the trial, show it to the treating physician, and confirm current recruitment with the study center. Costs, documents and travel →
Official title

Effect of Lollipop on Postoperative Gastrointestinal Recovery in Children: A Randomised Controlled Trial

Overview

Postoperative ileus is common in children. There are various method to prevent postoperative ileus. In this study, the investigators will explore the role of sucking lollipop after operation on the recovery of gastrointestinal function in children.

Detailed description

Postoperative ileus is a common occurrence among children undergoing major operations, including gastrointestinal and spinal surgeries. It can result in physical discomfort, extended hospital stays, delayed resumption of activity and poor satisfaction with surgical care. The pathophysiology and course of postoperative ileus occurs in three phases: increased sympathetic activity, release of inflammatory mediators and vagal activation as ileus resolves. Multiple risk factors of postoperative ileus have been identified in various studies, including general risk factors such as significant blood loss, male gender and medical comorbidities like chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD), as well as risk factors specific to the surgery, such as the laparotomy approach, emergency surgery and stoma formation.

Chewing gum, as a form of sham feeding, has been employed in adults and children as a modality to decrease risk of postoperative ileus. There has been concrete evidence that it could result in expedited recovery of gastrointestinal function after surgery in adult populations. However, it may not be a feasible option for infants and young children. Lollipop, on the other hand, is easier to apply in children which only require the action of sucking. It can stimulate the cephalic phase of digestion via vagal cholinergic stimulation and release of gastrointestinal hormone (gastrin and motilin) through its taste and absorption of sugar. The current evidence of lollipop in the recovery of postoperative gastrointestinal function in children is limited with only two randomised controlled trial published so far with satisfactory outcomes, yet both were not indexed and were not carried out in accordance with Consolidated Standards of Reporting Trials (CONSORT). Based on these reasons, the investigators plan to carry out a prospective, multiple-centred, non-blinded, randomized controlled trial using a parallel arm design on the effect of lollipop on recovery of gastrointestinal function after operation in children. Children recruited will be randomly assigned into either lollipop group or non-treatment group; lollipop will be given to children in treatment group after operation. Their outcomes will be compared.

Interventions

  • Other Lollipop
    sucking of lollipop after operation

Primary outcome measures

  • Time for participants to return of flatus [Time frame: 1 week]
  • Time for participants to first stool passage [Time frame: 1 week]
Secondary outcome measures (3)
  • Time for participants to resumption of feeding [Time frame: 1 month]
  • Time for participants to discharge from hospital after operation [Time frame: 1 month]
  • Presence of any complications in participants [Time frame: 1 month]

Eligibility criteria

Inclusion criteria

  • Patients receiving major abdominal surgery (e.g.appendicectomy, choledochal cyst surgery, bowel resection etc)

Exclusion criteria

  • Patients with neurological conditions that preclude sucking/swallowing.
  • Patients under sedation and/or mechanical ventilation and/or ionotropic support in the post operative period.
  • Patients with known food allergy or allergy to food coloring agents

Criteria are shown verbatim from the registry (in English). Final eligibility is always assessed by the study center.

Healthy volunteers: No

Study design

Allocation
Randomized
Model
Parallel assignment
Masking
Open label
Primary purpose
Prevention

Study locations

Hong Kong · 1 center
  • Department of Surgery, University of Hong Kong — Hong Kong

Identifiers

NCT: NCT06108011 · LollipopTrial

Primary sources (government registries)

View this study on ClinicalTrials.gov ↗