Malignant bowel obstruction: so much more than symptom control

Malignant bowel obstruction is a life-threatening complication in patients with advanced cancer which has, until recently, required patients to be cared for in medical establishments. The majority of literature examining malignant bowel obstruction discusses medical and surgical care of patients. The nursing dimension of caring for such patients appears to have been rarely explored despite the impact that medical advances have had on nursing care in ensuring that people with a terminal illness are nursed appropriately. Advances in medical management and nursing initiatives now give this group of patients the choice of care setting. This article explores the complexity of malignant bowel obstruction alongside the its medical management, and highlights the challenge of nursing a patient experiencing malignant bowel obstruction as a terminal event.