Inpatient pharmacologic management of malignant bowel obstruction
Authors: Arora Rahul D. 
Published: February 2021

Background: Management of life threatening complications encountered in Advanced Cancer is an important domain of Palliative Oncology. Malignant Bowel Obstruction is usually an indicator of poor prognosis in Advanced cancer. It is usually associated with malignancies in the gastrointestinal tract or those outside the gastrointestinal tract (gynaecological malignancies). MBO can also occur with primary peritoneal as well as secondary peritoneal malignancies. Diagnostic criteria for MBO include Clinical evidence of bowel obstruction, obstruction distal to the Ligament of Treitz, presence of primary intraabdominal or extra abdominal cancer with peritoneal involvement.

Materials: Detailed below are two cases of Malignant Bowel obstruction managed with Conservative inpatient nonoperative management with discussion of the proposed pharmacological protocol for the same.

Case Details: A 45 year old Postmenopausal female diagnosed as carcinoma ovary stage iiic with left lower limb Deep Venous Thrombosis post multiple lines of chemotherapy including Paclitaxel plus Carboplatin, Etoposide, Tamoxifen and Liposomal Doxorubin, Malignant pleural effusion post thoracentesis was seen in the wards. A 31 year old Female a known case of moderately differentiated carcinoma colon with transmural infiltration and serosal seeding along with omental deposits with hepatic metastasis was seen in the casualty with signs of Multiple episodes of bilious vomiting with colicky abdominal pain and diagnosed to have malignant bowel obstruction on clinic radiological evaluation. Both these patients were provided non operative management of malignant bowel obstruction, were kept nil per oral, nasogastric decompression was performed with ryles tube insertion, antisecretory medication Inj Octreotide 100 ug three times daily, Anti Edema measures Inj Dexamethasone 8 mg intravrenous three times daily, Anti spasmodic and anti secretory medication Inj Hyoscine Butyl bromide 10 mg three times daily, inj Metronidazole 500 mg intravenous three times daily and Pain medication Inj Tramadol hydrochloride 50 mg intravenous in 100 ml of normal saline three times daily. Both these patients developed hyperglycemia which was managed with human regular insulin prescribed as per the sliding scale.

Results: Ryles tube aspirate showed a decreasing trend and both the Patients achieved clinical resolution of symptoms underwent deintubation on Day 10 and Day 13 respectively and were taking oral feeds at the time of discharge. They were prescribed pharmacologic management of adhesive bowel obstruction consisting of Tab activated Dimethicone 40 mg three times daily, Tab Lactobacillus one tablet three times daily and Polyethylene glycol one satchet upto three times daily for 15 days at the time of discharge.

Results: Resolution of symptoms can be achieved by providing non operative pharmacological management outlined above which consists of adequate hydration, parenteral nutrition when indicated, antibiotics, decongestive anti edema measures, anti spasmodic and anti secretory medication.

Conclusion: Management of Hyperglycemia induced by Octreotide and Dexamethasone requires Insulin therapy. Optimum Duration, dosage and route of administration of Octreotide in management of Malignant Bowel Obstruction needs to be evaluated further.