title: Management of symptoms due to inoperable bowel obstruction.
abstract: Bowel obstruction is a common and distressing outcome in patients with abdominal or pelvic cancer. Although surgery should be the primary treatment for malignant obstruction, it is now recognized that some patients with advanced disease or in generally poor condition are unfit for surgery and require alternative management to relieve distressing symptoms. A number of treatment options are now available for the patient with advanced and terminal cancer who develops intestinal obstruction. Medical measures such as analgesics, anti-secretory drugs and antiemetics may be used alone or in combination to relieve symptoms.
authors.affiliation: Rehabilitation and Palliative Care Operative Unit, National Cancer Institute of Milan, Milan, Italy. carla.ripamonti@istitutotumori.mi.it
authors.forename: Carla
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Ripamonti
authors.forename: Elena
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Fagnoni
authors.forename: Andrea
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Magni
mesh_terms: D000700:Analgesics / Q000627:therapeutic use; D000932:Antiemetics / Q000627:therapeutic use; D006801:Humans; D007415:Intestinal Obstruction / Q000150:complications / Q000209:etiology* / Q000628:therapy*; D010347:Patient Care Planning; D011788:Quality of Life; D013727:Terminal Care
chemical_list: D000700:Analgesics; D000932:Antiemetics