Malignant Large Gut Obstruction-Changing Trends in Management

Abstract

Most of the malignant large gut obstructions are associated with progressive pathological changes culminating into bowel ischaemia and perforation leading to peritonitis, sepsis or abscess formation. Hence this entity can have varied clinical presentations which will prognosticate the outcome. Presentation can be acute, subacute or chronic and recurrent while one has to distinguish it from entities like pseudo obstruction in which treatment is little different. History, physical examination, baseline investigations are usual but radiological assessment is necessary commencing from a plain radiograph and ultrasound and extending evaluation by CT scan , MR scan and colonoscopy.