 Postoperative ileus remains a source of morbidity and a major determinant of length of stay after abdominal surgery. This unfortunate complication may certainly affect patients satisfaction with their postoperative course. The postoperative care of a laparoscopic colectomy patient includes interventions that are evidence-based. Despite the evidence-based interventions, the incidence of ileus after laparoscopic colectomy continues to pose complications for the patient, staff, and the healthcare system. In the time period from January 1, 2006 to November 30, 2006 there were a total of 172 laparoscopic colectomies at St. Josephs Hospital and 28 patients developed an ileus. Six percent of colectomy patients recovery was altered by a prolonged ileus. This is comparably and slightly less then the National Veterans Affairs Surgical Quality Improvement Programs data for postoperative ileus of 7.5 Longo et al. 2000. However, the length of stay for patients with an ileus was 8.4 days greater then non ileus patients, with a significant increased cost per ileus patient of 15,422.86. Clinicians have devised strategies that minimize postoperative ileus. Adjunct therapies such as motility agents, early postoperative feeding regimens, and physical therapy have been tested in clinical trials, but are not routinely used because of their limited clinical efficacy Matros, et al. 2006. Gum chewing, an inexpensive intervention, is theorized to activate the cephalic- vagal reflex, which is usually activated by food, and to increase the production of gastrointestinal hormones associated with bowel motility Asao, et al, 2002. 