Pathophysiology and palliation of inoperable bowel obstruction in patients with ovarian cancer

Malignant bowel obstruction is the cause of death in the majority of women who die of ovarian cancer. Some patients are considered acceptable surgical candidates for relief of the obstruction. For many patients, however, lack of such surgical options has spawned a broad range of medical interventions, including palliative strategies to target pain and nausea and vomiting. This review discusses the general approach to patients with ovarian cancer and inoperable malignant bowel obstruction, with an emphasis on such palliative strategies.