Home support of patients with end-stage malignant bowel obstruction using hydration and venting gastrostomy.

Palliative terminal care of patients with malignant bowel obstruction is a major clinical and ethical challenge. These patients are often mentally alert and ambulatory, but are kept in the hospital for hydration, nasogastric suction, and pain control. Parenteral nutrition requires frequent metabolic monitoring, is expensive, and is ethically questionable. We have used an alternative method of home management for 27 patients who met the following criteria: inoperable bowel obstruction due to untreatable cancer, an estimated life expectancy of between 2 weeks and 3 months, and understanding of the goals and limits of therapy. Hydration was provided by 10 percent dextrose and electrolyte solutions administered as overnight infusions through long-term central venous catheters. Thirteen patients with complete bowel obstruction required a venting gastrostomy which, when connected to passive drainage, relieved nausea and vomiting. The mean duration of survival was 64 days (range 9 to 223 days). Acceptance by patients and families was excellent, although most acknowledged increased costs due to limited insurance coverage for outpatient care. Seven patients returned to the hospital for terminal care (average stay 3.2 days), and 20 chose to die at home. The mean daily expense for fluids and supplies was +73.50, with an overall cost decrease of $900,000 compared with inpatient care. Home support with fluids and gastric venting is a humane, cost-effective alternative to in-hospital care for selected patients.

Neuroblastoma: diagnostic imaging and staging.

Results of computed tomography (CT), scintigraphy, excretory urography, and other imaging tests used to diagnose and stage 38 cases of neuroblastoma prior to treatment were reviewed. Findings of these examinations were correlated with clinical data, laboratory data, results of biopsy, and surgical findings. CT was the most sensitive single test (100%) for the detection and delineation of the primary tumor. Calcifications that suggested the histologic diagnosis of neuroblastoma were present in 79% of the cases. Rim calcifications, the most specific pattern for neuroblastoma, were identified in 29% of all cases. CT alone accurately staged 82% of cases; when complemented by bone marrow biopsy, staging accuracy was 97%. CT alone was more accurate than any combination of imaging tests that excluded CT. An algorithm using CT is presented for the diagnosis and staging of neuroblastoma at reduced cost and with increased efficiency.