Journal of Parenteral and Enteral Nutrition

 

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Journal of Parenteral and Enteral Nutrition, Vol. 31, No. 6, 508-510 (2007)
DOI: 10.1177/0148607107031006508

Original Communications

Parenteral Nutrition Prolongs the Survival of Patients Associated With Malignant Gastrointestinal Obstruction

Bo-Guang Fan, MD, PhD

From the Department of Surgery, Wenzhou Medical College, Taizhou Hospital, Zhejiang, China

Correspondence: Bo-Guang Fan, MD, PhD, Department of Surgery, Taizhou Hospital of Zhejiang Province, Taizhou Linhai, Zhejiang Province, China. Electronic mail may be sent to fanboguang{at}gmail.com.

Background: Many patients with advanced cancers have associated gastrointestinal (GI) obstruction. Parenteral nutrition (PN) is indicated in patients with a dysfunctional GI tract, but the role of PN in patients' survival is still controversial. The present study was retrospectively conducted to verify if there are any long-term survivors living for more than 1 year after initiation of PN without food or drink in patients with malignant GI tract obstruction resulting from advanced cancers. Methods: One hundred fifteen adult patients with malignant GI obstruction were identified over a 6-year period at a palliative-care setting. Their median age was 51 years (range, 31–74 years), and 62 (54%) were women and 53 men (46%). All selected patients had malignant GI tract obstruction and started PN treatment after cessation of energy intake to time of death. Survival expectancy as a criterion was analyzed in all patients. Results: The median time from initiation of PN to death was 6.5 months. Eleven patients survived ≥1 year and 2 patients have been alive for almost 4 years later after cessation of energy intake. Conclusions: PN can be expected to obtain a longer survival for the patient with GI tract obstruction caused by advanced cancer.


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