LAUSR

BACKGROUND Gastrointestinal obstruction is the most common indication for palliative surgical consultation. We sought to assess patient-reported outcomes (PRO) and survival after surgical and non-surgical treatment of malignant bowel obstruction. STUDY DESIGN This was a prospective observational study enrolling patients with advanced malignancy who underwent surgical consultation at a tertiary cancer center. PROs were evaluated using a previously validated inventory, the MDASI-GIO, administered at enrollment and 7 other time points for up to 90 days. RESULTS We enrolled 125 patients, of whom 37 underwent surgery and 88 did not. Patients treated non-surgically were more likely to have carcinomatosis on imaging (71% vs 49%, P=0.02). Pain medicine, palliative care, and chaplaincy consultations occurred in 17%, 30%, and 15% of patients within the first month of enrollment. Higher mean symptom scores were noted by surgical patients although the only single scores with effect sizes ≥0.5 were symptom interference with general activity and work. The composite score for interference in work, activity, and walking had the largest effect size at -0.37, indicating greater interference in patients undergoing surgery. Patients selected for surgery had extended overall survival (median 15 vs 3 months, P<0.01). Carcinomatosis, palliative care evaluation, and venting gastrostomy tube were associated with increased risk of death, while ability to receive subsequent chemotherapy and surgical management were positive prognostic indicators. CONCLUSION In this first study evaluating PROs after treatment for malignant bowel obstruction we found that selection for surgical treatment was associated with improved survival, but also more symptom interference in general activities and work. These results may be useful in palliative surgical decision-making and informing patients during consultation for malignant bowel obstruction.