Skip to main content
SpringerLink
Log in

Palliation of abdominal symptoms

  • Chapter
Palliative Care and Rehabilitation of Cancer Patients

Part of the book series: Cancer Treatment and Research ((CTAR,volume 100))

Abstract

Constipation has been defined objectively in various ways, but its importance lies in the distress it causes as a symptom. The components of this symptom are primarily difficult and infrequent defecation, but may also include such sensations as flatulence, bloating, rectal dissatisfaction, and malaise.

This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.

Access this chapter

Log in via an institution
Chapter
USD 29.95
Price excludes VAT (USA)
  • Available as PDF
  • Read on any device
  • Instant download
  • Own it forever
eBook
USD 169.00
Price excludes VAT (USA)
  • Available as EPUB and PDF
  • Read on any device
  • Instant download
  • Own it forever
Softcover Book
USD 219.99
Price excludes VAT (USA)
  • Compact, lightweight edition
  • Dispatched in 3 to 5 business days
  • Free shipping worldwide - see info
Hardcover Book
USD 219.99
Price excludes VAT (USA)
  • Durable hardcover edition
  • Dispatched in 3 to 5 business days
  • Free shipping worldwide - see info

Tax calculation will be finalised at checkout

Purchases are for personal use only

Institutional subscriptions

Preview

Unable to display preview. Download preview PDF.

Unable to display preview. Download preview PDF.

References

  1. Cartwright A, Hockey L, Anderson JL. 1973. Life Before Death. London: Routledge and Kegan Paul, 23.

    Google Scholar 

  2. Holmes S. 1989. Use of a modified symptom distress scale in assessment of the cancer patient. Int J Nurs Stud 26:69–79.

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  3. Sykes NP. 1990. Methods of assessment of bowel function in patients with advanced cancer. Palliat Med 4:287–292.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  4. Bassotti G, Gaburri M. 1988. Manometric investigation of high amplitude propagated contractile activity of the human colon. Am J Physiol 255:G660–G664.

    PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  5. Holdstock DJ, Misiewicz JJ, Smith T, Rowlands EH. 1970. Propulsion (mass movements) in human colon and its relation to meals and somatic activity. Gut 2:91–99.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  6. Wigzell FW. 1969. The health of nonagenarians. Gerontol Clin 11:137–144.

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  7. Adler HF, Atkinson AJ, Ivy AC. 1942. Effect of morphine and dilaudid on the ileum and of morphine, dilaudid and atropine on the colon of man. Arch Intern Med 69:974–985.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  8. Margolin S. 1954. Decreased gastrointestinal propulsive activity after instracranial morphine. Fed Proc 13:383–384.

    Google Scholar 

  9. Manara L, Bianchi G, Ferretti P, Tavani A. 1986. Inhibition of gastrointestinal transit by morphine in rats results primarily from direct drug action on gut opioid sites. J Pharmacol Exp Ther 237:945–948.

    PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  10. Manara L, Bianchi G, Ferretti P, Monferini E, Strada D, Tavani A. 1980. Local and CNS-mediated effects of morphine and narcotic antagonists on gastrointestinal propulsion in rats. In Way EL (ed), Endogenous and Exogenous Opiate Agonists and Antagonists. New York: Pergamon, 143–146.

    Google Scholar 

  11. Ruppin H. 1987. Review: loperamide — a potent antidiarrhoeal drug with actions along the alimentary tract. Aliment Pharmacol Ther 1:179–190.

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  12. Kreek MJ, Schaefer RA, Hahn EF, Fishman J. 1983. Naloxone, a specific opioid antagonist reverses chronic idiopathic constipation. Lancet i:261–262.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  13. Kreek MJ, Paris P, Bartol MA, Mueller D. 1984. Effects of short term oral administration of the specific opioid antagonist naloxone on faecal evacuation in geriatric patients. Gastroenterology 86:1144.

    Google Scholar 

  14. Connell AM, Hilton C, Irvine G, Lennard-Jones JE, Misiewicz JJ. 1965. Variation in bowel habit in two population samples. Br Med J ii: 1095–1099.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  15. Wyman JB, Mann JB, Heaton KW, Manning AP, Wicks ACB. 1978. Variability of colonic function in healthy subjects. Gut 19:146–150.

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  16. Bruera E, Brenneis C, Michaud M, MacDonald N. 1987. Continous s.c. infusion of metoclopromide for treatment of narcotic bowel syndrome. Cancer Treat Rep 71:1121–1122.

    PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  17. Donaldson AN. 1922. Experimental study of intestinal stasis. JAMA 78:884–888.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  18. Mumford SP. 1986. Can high fibre diets improve the bowel function in patients on radiotherapy ward? Cited in Twycross RG, Lack SA, Control of Alimentary Symptoms in Far Advanced Cancer. London: Churchill Livingstone, 166–207.

    Google Scholar 

  19. Twycross RG, Lack SA. 1986. Control of Alimentary Symptoms in Far Advanced Cancer. London: Churchill Livingstone.

    Google Scholar 

  20. Sykes NP. 1996. A volunteer model for the comparison of laxatives in opioid-related constipation. J Pain Symptom Manage 11:363–369.

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  21. Sykes NP. 1991 Clinical comparison of laxatives in a hospice. Palliat Med 5:307–314.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  22. Maguire LC, Yon JL, Miller E. 1981 Prevention of narcotic-induced constipation. N Eng J Med 305:1651

    CAS  Google Scholar 

  23. Debognie JC, Phillips SF. 1978. Capacity of the human colon to absorb fluid. Gastroenterology 74:698–703.

    Google Scholar 

  24. Condon JR, South M, Wolveson RL, Brinkley D. 1978. Radiation diarrhoea and cholestryramine. Postgrad Med J 54:838–839.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  25. Mennie AT, Dalley VM, Dinneen LC, Collier HO. 1975. Treatment of radiation-induced gastrointestinal distress with acetylsalicylate. Lancet ii:942–943.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  26. Edes TD, Walk BE, Austin JL. 1990. Diarrhoea in tube-fed patients: feeding formula not necessarily the cause. Am J Med 88:91–93.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  27. Mercadante S. 1992. Treatment of diarrhoea due to enterocolic fistula in a terminal cancer patient. Palliat Med 6:257–259.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  28. Boyd K. 1993. Diabetes mellitus in hospice patients: some guidelines. Palliat Med 7:163–164.

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  29. Bruera E, Catz Z, Hooper R, Leattle B, MacDonald N. 1987. Chronic nausea and anorexia in advanced cancer patients: a possible role for autonomic dysfunction. J Pain Symptom Manage 2:19–21

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  30. Fainsinger RL, MacEachern T, Miller MJ, Bruera E, Spachynski K, Kuehn N, Hanson J. 1994. The use of hypodermoclysis for rehydration in terminally ill cancer patients. J Pain Symptom Manage 9:298–302.

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  31. Mercadante S. 1995. Diarrhoea in terminally ill patients, pathophysiology and treatment. J Pain Symptom Manage 10:298–309.

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  32. Norton JA, Doppman JL, Jensen RT. 1989. Cancer of the endocrine system. In De Vita VT, Hellman S, Rosenberg SA (eds), Cancer: Principles and Practice of Oncology, 3rd ed. Philadelphia: Lippincott, 1269-344.

    Google Scholar 

  33. DuPont HL, Ericsson CD, DuPont MW, Luna AC, Mathewson JJ. 1990. A randomized, open-label comparison of non-prescription loperamide and attapulgite in the symptomatic treatment of acute diarrhoea. Am J Med 88(Suppl 6A):205–235.

    Google Scholar 

  34. De Conno F, Caraceni A, Zecca E, Spoldi E, Ventafridda V. 1991 Continuous subcutaneous infusion of hyoscine butylbromide reduces secretions in patients with gastrointestinal obstruction. J Pain Symptom Manage 6:484–486.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  35. Fedorak RN, Field M, Chang EB. 1985. Treatment of diabetic diarrhoea with Clonidine. Annals of Internal Medicine 102:197–199.

    PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  36. Hanks G, Portenoy RK, MacDonald N, Forbes K. 1998. Difficult pain problems. In Doyle D, Hanks G, MacDonald N (eds), Oxford Textbook of Palliative Medicine (2nd edition). Oxford: University Press, 464.

    Google Scholar 

  37. World Health Organisation Cancer Pain Relief. (2nd edition). Geneva: WHO, 1996.

    Google Scholar 

  38. Zenz M, Strumpf M, Tryba M. 1992. Long-term opioid therapy in patients with chronic non-malignant pain. Journal of Pain and Symptom Management 7:69–77.

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  39. Boquet J, Moore N, Lhuintre JP, Boismare F. 1986. Diltiazem for proctalgia fugax. Lancet 1:1493.

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  40. Bristow A, Foster JMG. 1988. Lumbar sympathectomy in the management of rectal tenesmoid pain. Annals of the Royal College of Surgeons of England 70:38–39.

    PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  41. Cutrin Prieto C, Casal Iglesias L, Batalla Eiras A, et al. 1991 Treatment with indomethacin for the control of metabolic disorder caused by a villous adenoma of the rectum. Annales de Medicina Interna 8:345–346.

    CAS  Google Scholar 

  42. Brunetaud JM, Maunoury V, Cochelard D, Adenis A, Boniface B, Cortot A, Paris JC. 1989. Lasers in rectosigmoid cancers: factors affecting immediate and long term results. Bailliere’s Clinical Gastroenterology 3:615–626.

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  43. Abel ME, Chiu YS, Russell TR, Volpe PA. 1993. Autologous fibrin glue in the treatment of rectovaginal and complex fistulas. Diseases of the Colon and Rectum 36:447–449.

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

Download references

Authors
  1. Nigel Sykes
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

Editor information

Editors and Affiliations

  1. Center for Palliative Studies, San Diego Hospice, San Diego, California, USA

    Charles F. von Gunten M.D., Ph.D, FACP

Rights and permissions

Reprints and permissions

Copyright information

© 1999 Springer Science+Business Media New York

About this chapter

Cite this chapter

Sykes, N. (1999). Palliation of abdominal symptoms. In: von Gunten, C.F. (eds) Palliative Care and Rehabilitation of Cancer Patients. Cancer Treatment and Research, vol 100. Springer, Boston, MA. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-1-4615-5003-7_3

Download citation

  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/978-1-4615-5003-7_3

  • Publisher Name: Springer, Boston, MA

  • Print ISBN: 978-1-4613-7272-1

  • Online ISBN: 978-1-4615-5003-7

  • eBook Packages: Springer Book Archive

Publish with us

Policies and ethics

Search

Navigation