Effectiveness of octreotide in advanced cancer patients with malignant bowel obstruction and intractable diarrhea

Tomasz Grądalski; Izabela Bętkowska

Vol 8, No 4 (2009)

Case reports

Published online: 2010-02-01

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Effectiveness of octreotide in advanced cancer patients with malignant bowel obstruction and intractable diarrhea

Tomasz Grądalski, Izabela Bętkowska

Advances in Palliative Medicine 2009;8(4):161-164.

Vol 8, No 4 (2009)

Case reports

Published online: 2010-02-01

Abstract

Malignant bowel obstruction and intractable diarrhea in advanced cancer are common devastating syndromes. Apart from disease specific, causative treatment in patients with longer prognosis, there is a possibility of conservative, non-operative symptom management in terminal phase. A successful control of intractable vomiting and diarrhea using octreotide in two advanced cancer patients was presented, with guidance through steps of the management. Pathophysiologic vicious circle of the bowel obstruction and diarrhoea was described and the management algorithm was proposed. Due to the gut hyposecreting action, octreotide occurs to be a potent and essential drug in refractory vomiting or diarrhea.