Malignant Bowel Occlusion: An Update on Current Available Treatments

Area of Science:

• Gastroenterology
• Oncology
• Interventional Endoscopy

Background:

• Malignant bowel obstruction (MBO) is a severe complication in advanced cancer patients.
• Surgery is the primary treatment but often not feasible due to patient frailty.
• Less invasive palliative interventions are gaining importance.

Purpose of the Study:

• To review current and emerging minimally invasive treatments for MBO.
• To highlight the role of endoscopic and percutaneous techniques in managing MBO.
• To discuss the potential of new endoscopic interventions for MBO.

Main Methods:

• Review of current literature and guidelines on MBO treatment.
• Analysis of surgical, medical, endoscopic, and percutaneous approaches.
• Discussion of recent advancements in interventional endoscopy.

Main Results:

• Endoscopic and percutaneous techniques provide safe and effective symptom relief for MBO.
• Colonic stenting is supported for malignant colonic obstruction, acting as a bridge or definitive treatment.
• Emerging endoscopic ultrasound-guided techniques show promise for small bowel MBO.

Conclusions:

• Minimally invasive endoscopic and percutaneous interventions are crucial for MBO management in frail patients.
• Endoscopic stenting is a key treatment option for malignant colonic obstruction.
• Advancements in interventional endoscopy offer new hope for treating MBO with less invasive solutions.