Parenteral nutrition prolongs the survival of patients associated with malignant gastrointestinal obstruction.
BACKGROUND
Many patients with advanced cancers have associated gastrointestinal (GI) obstruction. Parenteral nutrition (PN) is indicated in patients with a dysfunctional GI tract, but the role of PN in patients' survival is still controversial. The present study was retrospectively conducted to verify if there are any long-term survivors living for more than 1 year after initiation of PN without food or drink in patients with malignant GI tract obstruction resulting from advanced cancers.


METHODS
One hundred fifteen adult patients with malignant GI obstruction were identified over a 6-year period at a palliative-care setting. Their median age was 51 years (range, 31-74 years), and 62 (54%) were women and 53 men (46%). All selected patients had malignant GI tract obstruction and started PN treatment after cessation of energy intake to time of death. Survival expectancy as a criterion was analyzed in all patients.


RESULTS
The median time from initiation of PN to death was 6.5 months. Eleven patients survived >or=1 year and 2 patients have been alive for almost 4 years later after cessation of energy intake.


CONCLUSIONS
PN can be expected to obtain a longer survival for the patient with GI tract obstruction caused by advanced cancer.
Fan
Bo-Guang
BG
Department of Surgery, Wenzhou Medical College, Taizhou Hospital, Zhejiang, China. fanboguang@gmail.com
D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007415:Intestinal Obstruction / Q000209:etiology / Q000401:mortality / Q000628:therapy*; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009369:Neoplasms / Q000150:complications* / Q000401:mortality; D010166:Palliative Care / Q000379:methods*; D016562:Parenteral Nutrition, Home Total / Q000379:methods*; D011379:Prognosis; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D013534:Survival; D016019:Survival Analysis; D013997:Time Factors