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Evidence summaries

Corticosteroids for the Resolution of Malignant Bowel Obstruction

Dexamethasone intravenously may help to resolve malignant bowel obstruction. Level of evidence: "C"

A Cochrane review [Abstract] 1 included three unpublished, randomised, placebo-controlled studies of high methological quality with a total of 97 subjects. There was a non-significant trend for the resolution of bowel obstruction with dexamethasone 6-16 mg intravenously. The NNT was 6 (95% CI 3 to infinity). There was no difference in mortality.

Comment: The quality of evidence is downgraded by very sparse data (extremely wide confidence intervals).

    References

    • Feuer DJ, Broadley KE. Corticosteroids for the resolution of malignant bowel obstruction in advanced gynaecological and gastrointestinal cancer. Cochrane Database Syst Rev. 2008;(2):CD001219.

Primary/Secondary Keywords