Palliative general surgical procedures.

Two types of procedure may be indicated in incurable patients. The first is palliative, in which the goal of intervention is relief of symptoms. The second type is supportive, where the procedure is a technical intervention done as part of a multidisciplinary treatment plan. The most minimally invasive but effective procedure is chosen. Procedures are categorized by the type of symptom the procedure is intended to relieve. This article emphasizes the principles involved in patient selection and outcome assessment in order to identify areas where more research is needed.