Can malignant bowel obstruction in advanced cancer patients be treated at home?
Eleven advanced cancer patients affected by malignant bowel obstruction (MBO) were treated at home with a combination of octreotide, metoclopramide, morphine, and dexamethasone. In all patients, we observed a prompt control of gastrointestinal symptoms and recovery of bowel movements within 1-5 days. Based on our results, a combination of drugs with different mechanisms of action allows an effective and safe treatment for MBO at home. Further studies with larger number of patients are warranted to confirm these preliminary data.
Porzio
Giampiero
G
L'Aquila per la Vita Home Care Unit, L'Aquila, Italy. porzio@sctf.it
Aielli
Federica
F
Verna
Lucilla
L
Galletti
Brigida
B
Shoja E Razavi
Ghazaleh
G
Ficorella
Corrado
C
D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D000701:Analgesics, Opioid / Q000627:therapeutic use; D000932:Antiemetics / Q000627:therapeutic use; D003907:Dexamethasone / Q000627:therapeutic use; D004359:Drug Therapy, Combination; D005260:Female; D005765:Gastrointestinal Agents / Q000627:therapeutic use; D018575:Home Care Services, Hospital-Based / Q000458:organization & administration*; D006801:Humans; D007415:Intestinal Obstruction / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000209:etiology; D008297:Male; D008787:Metoclopramide / Q000627:therapeutic use; D008875:Middle Aged; D009020:Morphine / Q000627:therapeutic use; D009369:Neoplasms / Q000150:complications*; D015282:Octreotide / Q000627:therapeutic use
D000701:Analgesics, Opioid; D000932:Antiemetics; D005765:Gastrointestinal Agents; D009020:Morphine; D003907:Dexamethasone; D008787:Metoclopramide; D015282:Octreotide