Intestinal obstruction in patients with advanced gynecological cancer. A study of 62 cases.

In total, 62 cases with advanced gynecological malignancy were analyzed for the value of interventions for intestinal obstruction. 35 patients had an ileostomy, 7 patients had other palliative surgical intervention and 20 patients were managed conservatively. The median survival after surgical intervention was 7.7 months as against 1.3 months in conservatively treated patients. After surgery, all patients were affected by severe complications due to the primary disease. 22 (52.3%) of surgically treated patients received further therapy. 45 out of 62 patients (77.4%) died of progressive cancer and 14 (22.6%) of ileus. Surgical intervention had a positive effect on survival time, but only a marginal effect on life quality.