Abstract
Obstipation is defined as “extreme” constipation, meaning practically an interruption of the gastrointestinal transit. Acute obstipation may arise de novo or may complicate an already chronic state of constipation. Obstipation in cancer patients may be due to the mechanical or metabolic effect of the tumor, may result from the use of antineoplastic drugs or of other drugs, or may be due to unrelated causes. Table 1 summarizes the causes of obstipation that arises in cancer patients.
Access this chapter
Tax calculation will be finalised at checkout
Purchases are for personal use only
Preview
Unable to display preview. Download preview PDF.
References
Lo AM, Evans WE, Carey LC: Review of small bowel obstruction at Milwaukee County General Hospital. Am J Surg 111: 884, 1966.
Sise JG, Crichlow RW: Obstruction due to malignant tumors. Semin Oncol 5: 213–224, 1978.
McNeil JE: Mechanism of obstruction in carcinoid tumors of the small intestine. Am J Clin Pathol 56: 452, 1971.
Glass RL, Le Duc RJ: Small intestinal obstruction from peritoneal carcinomatosis. Am J Surg 125: 316, 1973.
Ulin AW, Delement FA, James PM: Large bowel obstruction due to carcinoma. Am Fam Physician 3: 79, 1971.
Glenn F, McSherry CK: Obstruction and perforation in colorectal cancer. Ann Surg 173: 983, 1971.
Welsch JP, Donaldson GA: Management of severe obstruction of the large bowel due to malignant disease. Am J Surg 127: 492, 1974.
Thurtle OA, Allen AP, Walters MT, Kitchen JV, Smith CL, Cawley MD: Intractable constipation in malignant phaeochromocytoma: Combined treatment with adrenergic blockade and cholinergic drugs. J R Soc Med 77: 327–328, 1984.
Short IA, Padfield PL: Malignant pheochromocytoma with severe constipation and myocardial necrosis. Br Med J 20: 793–794, 1976.
Hume DM: Pheochromocytoma in the adult and in the child. Am J Surg 99: 458–496, 1960.
Cuthberg JA, Gallagher ND, Turtle JR: Colonic and oesophageal disturbance in a patient with multiple endocrine neoplasia, type IIb. Aust N Z Med 8: 518–520, 1978.
Posner JB: Neurological complications of systemic cancer. Med Clin North Am 63: 783–800, 1979.
Veith RG, Odom GL: Extradural spinal metastases and their neurosurgical treatment. J Neurosurg 23: 501–508, 1965.
Arseni CN, Simionescu MD, Horwath L: Tumors of the spine: A follow-up study of 350 patients with neurosurgical considerations. Acta Psychiatr Scand 34: 398–410, 1959.
Rodriguez M, Dinapoli RP: Spinal cord compression with special reference to metastatic epidural tumors. Mayo Clin Proc 55: 442–448, 1980.
Petursson SR, Boggs DR: Spinal cord involvement in leukemia: A review of the literature and a case of Ph’ + acute myeloid leukemia presenting with a tonus medullaris syndrome. Cancer 47: 346–350, 1981.
Olsen CW: Leukemia as a cause of cauda equina syndrome. Bull Los Angeles Neurol Soc 1: 9598, 1935.
Gilbert RW, Kim JH, Posner JB: Epidural spinal cord compression from metastatic tumor: Diagnosis and treatment. Ann Neurol 3: 40–51, 1978.
Silvis RS, Riddle LR, Clark GG: Anterior sacral meningocele. Am Surg 22: 554–566, 1956.
Anderson FM, Burke BL: Anterior sacral meningocele. J Am Med Assoc 237: 39–42, 1977.
Fields AL, Josee RG, Bergsagel DE: Metabolic emergencies, in De Vita VT, Hellman S, Rosenberg SA (eds): Cancer: Principles and Practice of Oncology. Toronto, JB Lippincott, 1982, pp 1594–1604.
Mundy GR, Martin TJ: Hypercalcemia of malignancy: Pathogenesis and treatment. Metabolism 31: 1247–1277, 1982.
Mundy GR, Raisz LG, Cooper RA, Schechter GP, Salmon SE: Evidence for the secretion of an osteoclast stimulating factor in myeloma. N Eng J Med 291: 1041–1046, 1974.
Raisz LG, Simmons HA, Sandberg AL, Canalis E: Direct stimulation of bone resorption by epidermal growth factor. Endocrinology 107: 270–273, 1980.
Fillastre JP, Humbert G, Leroy J, et al: Furosemide, mithramycin and salmon calcitonin in hypercalcemia. Eur J Intensive Care Med 1: 185, 1975.
Boyle IT, Foeglman I: Glucocorticoids and estrogens in the management of hypercalcemia. Met Bone Dis Rel Res 2: 203, 1980.
Mannheimer IH: Hypercalcemia of breast cancer. Cancer 18: 679, 1965.
Slayton RE, Shnider BI, Elias E, et al: New approaches to the treatment of hypercalcemia: The effect of short-term treatment with mithramycin. Clin Pharmacol Ther 12: 833, 1971.
Binstock ML, Mundy GR: Effect of calcitonin and glucocorticoids in combination on the hypercalcemia of malignancy. Ann Intern Med 93: 269, 1980.
Wisneski LA, Croom WP, Silva OK, et al: Salmon calcitonin in hypercalcemia. Clin Pharmacol Ther 24: 219, 1978.
Jaffe JH, Martin WR: Opioid analgesics and antagonists, in Goodman-Gilman A, Goodman LS, Gilman A (eds): The Pharmacological Basis of Therapeutics, 6th ed. New York, Macmillan, 1980, pp 494–534.
Valdivieso M, Richman S, Burgess AM, Bodey DP, Freireich EJ: Initial clinical studies of vindesine. Cancer Treatment Rep 65: 873–875, 1981.
Neely J, Catchpole B: Ileus: The restoration of alimentary mobility by pharmacological means. Br J Surg 58: 21, 1971.
Binder MJ, Donowitz M: A new look at laxative action. Gastroenterology 69: 1001–1005, 1975.
Pietruski RG: Use and abuse of laxatives. AM J Hosp Pharm 34: 291–300, 1977.
Stewart JY, Bass P: Effects of ricinoleic and oleic acids on the digestive contractile activity of the canine small and large bowel. Gastroenterology 70: 371–376, 1976.
Garginella TS, Phillips SF: Ricinoleic acid (castor oil) alters intestinal surface structure. Mayo Clin Proc 51: 6–12, 1976.
Hardcastle JD, Wilkins JL: The action of semnosides and related compounds on human colon and rectum. Gut 11: 1038–1042, 1970.
Knowles JA: Effects on the infant of drug therapy in nursing mothers. Drug Ther 3: 57–65, 1973.
Sterr HW, Colin-Jones DG: Melanosis coli: Studies of the toxic effects of irritant purgatives. J Pathol 115: 199–205, 1975.
Donovitz M: Current concepts of laxative action: Mechanisms by which laxatives increase stool water. Gastroenterology 1: 77–84, 1979.
Mordeo JP, Schwartz R, Arky RA: Extreme hypermagnesemia as a cause of refractory hypotension. Ann Intern Med 83: 657–658, 1975.
Tedesco FJ, DiPiro JT: Laxative use in constipation. Am J Gastroenterol 80: 303–309, 1985.
Author information
Authors and Affiliations
Editor information
Editors and Affiliations
Rights and permissions
Copyright information
© 1987 Springer Science+Business Media New York
About this chapter
Cite this chapter
Ciobanu, N. (1987). Obstipation. In: Dutcher, J.P., Wiernik, P.H. (eds) Handbook of Hematologic and Oncologic Emergencies. Springer, Boston, MA. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-1-4899-0476-8_17
Download citation
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/978-1-4899-0476-8_17
Publisher Name: Springer, Boston, MA
Print ISBN: 978-1-4899-0478-2
Online ISBN: 978-1-4899-0476-8
eBook Packages: Springer Book Archive