Palliative Treatment Using Octreotide for Inoperable Malignant Bowel Obstruction

With an increase in the number of patients with malignant tumors, managing various symptoms of terminal ill cancer patients has become essential. Malignant bowel obstruction (MBO) is a serious complication commonly observed in advanced gastrointestinal or ovarian cancer patients. MBO interferes with the oral intake of food and causes painful symptoms such as nausea, vomiting, and abdominal pain. Therefore, patients’ quality of life (QOL) is significantly impaired. Palliation of symptoms from obstruction has traditionally been performed by gastrointestinal drainage and total parenteral nutrition. Surgical management has also been considered in patients with significant life expectancy (Davis and Nouneh, 2000; Ripamonti and Mercadante, 2005; Tuca et al., 2012). Current treatments for inoperable patients with MBO include medication in addition to gastric or intestinal intubation. However, drug therapy such as antiemetics has not achieved satisfactory effects in palliating the