Surgical management of malignant bowel obstruction

MBO is a common but difficult problem for surgeons caring for cancer patients. Nonsurgical interventions should be considered in all patients with MBO, especially in patients with limited expected survival time or for whom surgery will have little effect on disease control. Although there is no algorithm for all patients with MBO, decision-making is based on reasonable expectations of survival and treatment-related success. Surgical options can be helpful in the setting of MBO as long as reasonable goals and realistic outcomes are clear.