Gastro-Intestinal Symptoms in Palliative Care Patients

Abstract

This review of the palliation of various gastro-intestinal (GI) symptoms encountered in cancer patients is by no means exhaustive. Frequent symptoms such as constipation, nausea and vomiting, bowel obstructions, ascites and bleeds will be discussed, focusing on their assessment and most importantly, how to control the associated symptoms. All of these symptoms and GI complications can significantly impact patients’ quality of life (QOL) and should be treated as quickly and aggressively as possible.

Keywords

• palliation
• constipation
• nausea and vomiting
• bowel obstruction
• ascites
• bleeds