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Constipation, Diarrhea, and Intestinal Obstruction in Palliative Care

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Textbook of Palliative Care

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Abstract

The symptoms of bowel function, including constipation, diarrhea, and bowel obstructions, are problems that commonly affect palliative care patients. This chapter aims to summarize these problems, focusing on the current understanding of the prevalence, etiology, and palliative management. The first issue that will be discussed is the most prevalent distal gut problem of constipation. Despite the fact that the majority of palliative care patients require laxatives, the etiology of constipation in palliative care is not well described. The next topic is diarrhea, which, although less common, is still equally distressing. A systematic approach to assessment and management is recommended. Lastly, the evidence that describes the palliative management of inoperable bowel obstructions will be explored.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Supportive and Palliative Care Network NSLHD, Northern Sydney Cancer Centre Royal North Shore Hospital, St Leonards, Australia

    Katherine Clark

  2. Northern Clinical School, The University of Sydney, Camperdown, Australia

    Katherine Clark

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  1. Katherine Clark
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Correspondence to Katherine Clark .

Editor information

Editors and Affiliations

  1. HammondCare Learning and Research Centre, Greenwich Hospital, Greenwich, NSW, Australia

    Roderick Duncan MacLeod

  2. Vrije Universiteit Brussel, VUB-UGent End-of-Life Care Research Grou Vrije Universiteit Brussel, Brussels, Belgium

    Lieve Van den Block

Section Editor information

  1. The Violet Initiative, Sydney, NSW, Australia

    Roderick D MacLeod

  2. University of Auckland, Auckland, New Zealand

    Roderick D MacLeod

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Clark, K. (2024). Constipation, Diarrhea, and Intestinal Obstruction in Palliative Care. In: MacLeod, R.D., Van den Block, L. (eds) Textbook of Palliative Care. Springer, Cham. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-319-31738-0_14-2

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-319-31738-0_14-2

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  • Print ISBN: 978-3-319-31738-0

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Chapter history

  1. Latest

    Constipation, Diarrhea, and Intestinal Obstruction in Palliative Care
    Published:
    09 December 2023

    DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-319-31738-0_14-2

  2. Original

    Gastrointestinal Symptoms: Constipation, Diarrhea, and Intestinal Obstruction
    Published:
    28 March 2018

    DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-319-31738-0_14-1

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