Non-operative management of malignant intestinal obstruction

Intestinal obstruction is a relatively common clinical problem in patients with advanced cancer, particularly those with colorectal and ovarian tumours. A proportion of patients have a non-malignant cause for their obstruction, but in the remaining patients obstruction will be caused by advanced malignancy itself. In the past, most patients were either managed surgically or by nasogastric intestinal decompression and intravenous hydration. Surgery in patients with advanced cancer is associated with high mortality and morbidity. Effective surgical decompression is difficult. We have managed 24 patients with advanced abdominal malignancy and previous operative or radiological evidence of intestinal obstruction without operation. The technique is only appropriate for patients in whom a solitary or correctable obstructing lesion can be excluded. The patient is encouraged to take free fluid and a diet low in fibre. Intestinal colic is managed with morphine, the dose required being titrated for each individual patient against background pain and colic. Vomiting is controlled by the parenteral administration of antiemetic drugs. To simplify drug administration, morphine and metoclopramide are mixed in the same syringe and infused subcutaneously simultaneously. In our 24 patients the mean survival rate after the onset of complete obstruction was 29.2 days. The mean dose of morphine infused was 9.2 mg/h, and the mean dose of metoclopramide was 6.9 mg/h. The case of an 82-year-old male patient is presented. We commend the technique to surgeons contemplating surgery in these very difficult patients. It is simple, relatively non-invasive and saves the patients the pain, discomfort and complications of unproductive surgery.