| Theme | Palliative Medicine for Patients with Gastrointestinal Cancer | |
|---|---|---|
| Title | Management as Main Factor in Relief with Medical Treatment: Correspondence of Abdominal Fullness, Ascites, and Alimentary Canal Blockage | |
| Publish Date | 2004/01 | |
| Author | Masaaki Shimada | Department of Gastroenterology, Nagoya National Hospital |
| Author | Hiroaki Iwase | Department of Gastroenterology, Nagoya National Hospital |
| Author | Hidemi Goto | Department of Therapeutic Medicine, Nagoya University Graduate School of Medicine |
| [ Summary ] | Ascites and alimentary canal blockage accompanying carcinomatous peritonitis may be found in end term cancer cases with patients in poor general states. In such cases, abdominal pain, appetite loss, an enlarged abdomen, nausea and vomiting affect a patients' QOL remarkably. It is almost impossible to cure carcinomatous peritonitis completely, and a standard treatment has not been established. Therefore, a medical treatment aiming at relief of digestive organ conditions and an improvement in patients' QOL is our goal. When performing medical relief treatments, it is important to choose the treatment (symptomatic therapy, anticancer drug treatment, operations, etc.) according to each patient's condition. If we succeed in management of the condition accompanied with pain relief, we can greatly contribute to the improvement of the patients' QOL. | |