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Review
. 2024 Apr 21;31(4):2341-2352.
doi: 10.3390/curroncol31040174.

Gastro-Intestinal Symptoms in Palliative Care Patients

Golda Elisa Tradounsky  1   2
Affiliations
Review

Gastro-Intestinal Symptoms in Palliative Care Patients

Golda Elisa Tradounsky. Curr Oncol. .

Abstract

This review of the palliation of various gastro-intestinal (GI) symptoms encountered in cancer patients is by no means exhaustive. Frequent symptoms such as constipation, nausea and vomiting, bowel obstructions, ascites and bleeds will be discussed, focusing on their assessment and most importantly, how to control the associated symptoms. All of these symptoms and GI complications can significantly impact patients' quality of life (QOL) and should be treated as quickly and aggressively as possible.

Keywords: ascites; bleeds; bowel obstruction; constipation; nausea and vomiting; palliation.

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Conflict of interest statement

The author has not received external funding for this review. The author received honoraria for co-facilitating the teaching of Learning Essential Approaches of Palliative Care, from Pallium Canada, a not-for-profit organization.

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