The results of surgical treatment of bowel obstruction caused by peritoneal carcinomatosis.

Thirty-four patients with malignant bowel obstruction have been evaluated with particular regard to survival, success of decompression and incidence of reobstruction. In patients with intestinal obstruction caused by peritoneal carcinomatosis the following have been determined: 1) surgery is not urgent, 2) surgical decompression usually is possible, 3) surgical decompression may facilitate additional adjuvant therapy, and 4) death is usually not caused by reobstruction after surgical decompression.