Gastrointestinal and liver-related symptoms in paediatric palliative care

The gastro-intestinal tract (GIT) is a complex and essential organ that is the source of much distress from several and varied causes in palliative care. These causes include diseases of the gastro-intestinal system itself, and virtually every other system in the body. Medications used to treat underlying diseases (esp. cancer and human immunodeficiency virus (HIV)) often cause GIT side effects and even drugs used for palliation (esp. opioids) are often culprits. This chapter covers the management of common GIT symptoms and also discusses palliative care for children with intestinal failure and liver disease that were not covered in the last edition of this textbook.