A technique for managing terminally III ovarian carcinoma patients

Carla Chapman, James Bosscher, Steven Remmenga, Robert Park, Danny Barnhill

Research output: Contribution to journalArticlepeer-review

16 Scopus citations

Abstract

A patient with terminal ovarian carcinoma was admitted with malnutrition, abdominopelvic pain, and an inoperable complete small bowel obstruction after failing standard therapy and several experimental regimens for her disease. Despite this serious situation, she had an overall high performance status. Instead of administering intravenous narcotics, providing nasogastric suction, and giving other supportive care to make her apparently imminent death as comfortable as possible, her malnutrition was treated with total parenteral nutrition administered through an indwelling central venous catheter during the night hours only. The pain was successfully treated with an indwelling epidural catheter with the continuous infusion of morphine through a portable pump carried by a shoulder strap. The intestinal obstruction was relieved by a percutaneous endogastric tube which drained spontaneously into a leg bag. This regimen allowed the patient complete daytime mobility. She remained active, largely at home, with slowly progressing tumor until her death 9 months after the institution of this supportive care.

Original languageEnglish (US)
Pages (from-to)88-91
Number of pages4
JournalGynecologic Oncology
Volume41
Issue number1
DOIs
StatePublished - Apr 1991
Externally publishedYes

ASJC Scopus subject areas

  • Oncology
  • Obstetrics and Gynecology

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