EDMONd: A feasibility study of the elemental diet as an alternative to parenteral nutrition for women with ovarian cancer with inoperable malignant bowel obstruction
Who can take part
Please note - unless we state otherwise in the summary, you need to talk to your doctor about joining a trial.
You may be able to take part in this clinical trial if you:
- have ovarian or primary peritoneal cancer
- have a bowel obstruction (blockage) that can’t be relieved by surgery
This is not an exhaustive list. If you're interested in participating in a clinical trial, you should speak to your doctor about what other criteria might apply.
About the trial
Bowel blockage is a common complication in people with ovarian, peritoneal and bowel cancer as these cancers can grow on the bowel surface. Unfortunately this type of blockage often occurs on many parts of the bowel. This means that surgery often isn't possible and chemotherapy often isn't effective.
When a person has a bowel blockage, eating and drinking often gives them abdominal pain, vomiting and makes them feel very unwell. If the blockage is complete, eating is not possible. If the blockage is partial (the most common occurrence) then they're often able to swallow small amounts of liquid.
This study will look at whether giving the person with a bowel blockage an elemental diet is a good alternative to the current method of feeding and providing nutrition called parenteral nutrition (PN).
Parenteral nutrition is where nutrition is given through a drip into the veins through a long line called a PICC line. Parenteral nutrition is a complex process to set up. It can only be done in specialist centres and requires a lot of training. It often means a long stay in hospital before patients are allowed to go home. There's also the chance of getting an infection from the PICC line.
The elemental diet is a type of drink, that's taken by mouth. The drink contains nutrients that are already partly broken down (digested) so that the body does not need to do any work. It contains energy, broken-down proteins, vitamins and minerals. Elemental drinks are almost totally absorbed in the upper part of the bowel. Researchers think that the elemental diet can still be absorbed even in patients who have bowel blockage lower down in the gut.
The study will investigate if:
- an elemental diet can be used instead of parenteral nutrition
- the elemental diet can be used in hospital and at home
- people like the elemental diet drinks
- the person's symptoms of pain and vomiting are changed by the elemental diet
- the elemental diet improves the quality of life of patients at this difficult time
