Feasibility Study of a 4 Stage Bowel Obstruction Cancer Diet

Summary

Bowel obstruction is a common complication in patients with ovarian, peritoneal and bowel cancer due to a mass or spread of disease, causing narrowing to the gut, as these cancers can grow on the bowel surface. Certain foods may lead to symptoms such as pain, bloating, feeling full, feeling sick, vomiting and difficulty passing a bowel motion.

There is limited evidence to establish the best diet to follow when someone is diagnosed with the risk of bowel obstruction and is experiencing symptoms after eating and drinking.

The Dietitians at the Royal Surrey have developed a 4 stage bowel obstruction diet which they have been using with patients for 3 years. The 4 stages are clear fluids, all thin liquids, low fibre soft smooth diet, low fibre soft sloppy diet. Depending on the severity of symptoms and the risk of a blockage, patients are asked to follow a certain stage of the diet. They are advised to move up and down the stages as symptoms improve or get worse.

This feasibility study aims to investigate if the diet can be used and is effective in clinical practice. The objectives are to see if this diet is easy to follow, can reduce symptoms of bowel obstruction, can improve quality of life, and reduce admissions to hospital because of bowel blockages.

Patients at risk of bowel obstruction from colorectal or ovarian cancer are eligible to participate. They will remain in the study for a period of 4 weeks, during which time they will be asked to complete a diet diary and 3 questionnaires.

Conditions

• Colorectal Cancer
• Colorectal Neoplasms
• Colorectal Carcinoma
• Colorectal Adenocarcinoma
• Colorectal Cancer Metastatic
• Ovarian Cancer
• Ovarian Neoplasm
• Metastatic Colorectal Cancer
• Metastatic Ovary Cancer
• Peritoneal Carcinomatosis
• Bowel Obstruction

Interventions

OTHER

Dietary intervention

To determine whether a 4 stage bowel obstruction diet as a means of managing oral intake in patients symptomatic with malignant sub-acute bowel obstruction (SBO) is deliverable and effective in clinical practice.

Sponsors & Collaborators

• Royal Surrey County Hospital NHS Foundation Trust

  lead OTHER

Principal Investigators

• Lindsey Allan · Royal Surrey NHS Foundation Trust

• Agnieszka Michael · Royal Surrey NHS Foundation Trust

Study Design

Allocation

NA

Purpose

TREATMENT

Masking

NONE

Model

SINGLE_GROUP

Eligibility

Min Age

18 Years

Sex

ALL

Healthy Volunteers

No

Timeline & Regulatory

Start

2021-03-02

Primary Completion

2022-10-05

Completion

2022-11-02

Countries

• United Kingdom

Study Locations