[Paralytic ileus due to vinorelbine]

Intestinal obstruction is very common in cancer patients and occurs in 80% of cases with malignant aetiology. Hence, aggressive treatment is needed in most cases. The occlusion can be caused by luminal obstruction, paralysis of the intestinal muscle or carcinomatosis with mesentery involvement. The clinical case we present is that of a patient diagnosed as having lung cancer and who was admitted with paralytic ileus following treatment with vinorelbine; a vinca alkaloid whose main characteristic toxicities include neutropenia and peripheral neuropathy. Also, on rare occasions, the drug can cause paralysis of the ileum due to autonomic neuropathy. Hence, before administering aggressive treatment to an occlusive syndrome, cases that could benefit from conservative treatment should be ruled out.