Management of Symptoms Due to Inoperable Bowel Obstruction

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.