title: Endoscopic palliation for pancreatic cancer.
abstract: Pancreatic cancer is devastating due to its poor prognosis. Patients require a multidisciplinary approach to guide available options, mostly palliative because of advanced disease at presentation. Palliation including relief of biliary obstruction, gastric outlet obstruction, and cancer-related pain has become the focus in patients whose cancer is determined to be unresectable. Endoscopic stenting for biliary obstruction is an option for drainage to avoid the complications including jaundice, pruritus, infection, liver dysfunction and eventually failure. Enteral stents can relieve gastric obstruction and allow patients to resume oral intake. Pain is difficult to treat in cancer patients and endoscopic procedures such as pancreatic stenting and celiac plexus neurolysis can provide relief. The objective of endoscopic palliation is to primarily address symptoms as well improve quality of life.
authors.affiliation: Division of Gastroenterology and Hepatology, University of Virginia, PO Box 800708, Charlottesville, VA 22908, USA. mkahaleh@gmail.com.
authors.forename: Mihir
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Bakhru
authors.forename: Bezawit
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Tekola
authors.forename: Michel
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Kahaleh