Intestinal Obstruction Management in Patients with Advanced Abdominal Neoplasia

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Intestinal Obstruction Management in Patients with Advanced Abdominal Neoplasia

L. Simion, N.D. Straja, M. Alecu, V. Poroch, D. Moşoiu, C. Panti, V. Grigorean, E. Brătucu
Original article, no. 4, 2014
Background: The present study describes the difficultiesencountered in the diagnostic process and treatment ofintestinal obstruction developed by patients with advancedabdominal neoplasia.Methods: This unicentric and retrospective study evaluatespatients suffering from intestinal occlusion operated on at theFirst Surgical Clinic of the Oncology Institute in Bucharest, over a period of 4 years (2010 â€" 2013). Of these, 61 cases inwhich the occlusion occurred on the background of anadvanced abdominal neoplasia were selected. We consideredas advanced those cases of abdominal cancer where curativeoncologic treatment is no longer possible due to the evolutionstage.Results: The random selection of the study period, theintroduction of all the patients identified with this type ofpathology, as well as the concentration of advanced abdominalneoplasia at the Oncology Institute in Bucharest are theelements that allow us to state that the results of this study arerepresentative. Particularities related to the clinical aspects ofthe intestinal occlusion in these patients, as well as difficultiesin establishing the correct diagnosis were encountered.Surgical cure of the occlusion, with palliative aim of course,was possible in only 47 cases (representing 77.05%).Conclusions: A standard treatment course cannot be devisedfor this type of patients. Palliative care, indispensable incases of advanced neoplastic disease, remains the soletherapeutic method available for patients with no surgicalcure for the obstruction. The main objective, for the entirestudy lot, was to ensure an as high as possible quality of life,a factor we must bear in mind as often as possible whenchoosing a surgical solution. Of course, when surgicaltreatment can be applied, overcoming the occlusive episodeprolongs these patients’ life and can even allow for othercourses of complementary treatment to be undertaken.