Advances in pancreatic cancer pain and its treatment / 复旦学报（医学版）

Pancreatic cancer is a malignant digestive system tumor.The incidence of pancreatic cancer is rising,the prognosis is very poor,the mortality rate is extremely high (almost 100％),and the 5-year survival rate is less than 5％.One of the main symptoms of this tumor is pain and mostly neuropathic origin,which significantly decreases the quality of life and the impacts on patient's functional activity.The most common pain treatment for pancreatic cancer is drug analgesia therapy,which is based on the WHO analgesic ladder rule.However,it is not always effective,and many side effects reduce the quality of life of patients.Invasive treatment of pain in pancreatic cancer mainly includes neurolytic celiac plexus block and splanchnicectomy,which can significantly reduce the level of pain and help to improve the quality of life.Invasive remedies should not be applied at the final stage and should be considered in the early stages of the disease (such as the first or second step of the WHO analgesic ladder).This paper comprehensively analyzes the current clinical treatment of pancreatic cancer pain and evaluates its effectiveness,and hopes to provide more information on the treatment of pain in patients with pancreatic cancer.

The anatomy for retroperitoneal laparoscopic splanchnicectomy / La anatomía de la esplacnicectomía laparoscópica retroperitoneal

Greater splanchnic nerves (GSNs) and lesser splanchnic nerves (LSNs) are the dominant nerves in the pain of advanced cancer patients, which provides the base of retroperitoneal laparoscopic splanchnicectomy. We dissected 25 cadavers to provide anatomic basis for the surgery. Most GSNs entered the abdominal cavity close to the medial crus of the diaphragm while most LSNs the middle one. The number of the branch varies from 1 (which was 80 %) ­ 3. The abdominal segment length of LSNs and GSNs was 26 mm and 20 mm respectively. The mean diameter of the nerves was about 2 mm. The laparoscope was put through abdominal wall beneath the 12th rib at the posterior axillary line, best angles and distances for the surgery were 50 ° and 80-110 mm respectively. The anatomic parameters of splanchnic nerves in the abdominal cavity as well as the angle and distance for the retroperitoneal laparoscopic splanchnicectomy and the anatomic landmarks were presented by the study. Besides the advantages of small incision, less pain and quick recovery, the anatomic parameters provided a practicable approach for the retroperitoneal laparoscopic splanchnicectomy.

Los nervios esplácnicos mayores (NEM) y los nervios esplácnicos menores (NEm) son los nervios dominantes en el dolor de los pacientes con cáncer avanzado, que proporciona la base de la esplacnicectomía laparoscópica retroperitoneal. Se disecaron 25 cadáveres para proporcionar base anatómica para la cirugía. La mayoría de los NEM entraron en la cavidad abdominal cerca del pilar medial del diafragma, mientras que la mayoría de los Nem lo hicieron cerca del pilar medio. El número de ramas varía de 1 (que era del 80 %) - 3. La longitud del segmento abdominal de NEm y NEM fue de 26 mm y 20 mm, respectivamente. El diámetro medio de los nervios era de aproximadamente 2 mm. El laparoscopio se colocó a través de la pared abdominal debajo de la 12 costilla en la línea axilar posterior, los mejores ángulos y distancias para la cirugía fueron de 50° y 80-110 mm, respectivamente. Los parámetros anatómicos de los nervios esplácnicos en la cavidad abdominal, así como el ángulo y la distancia para la esplacnicectomía laparoscópica retroperitoneal y los puntos de referencia anatómicos fueron presentados por el estudio. Además de las ventajas de la incisión pequeña, menos dolor y recuperación rápida, los parámetros anatómicos proporcionaron un enfoque práctico para la esplacnicectomía laparoscópica retroperitoneal.

Use of Thoracoscopic Splanchnicectomy for the Relief of Chronic Pancreatic Pain: a Case Series

Chronic pancreatitis may cause disabling pain not responding to oral analgesics and/or drainage procedures. Although pancreatectomy is a definitive treatment, it carries a significant morbidity and mortality. Celiac plexus ablation is beneficial, although it is a temporary method for pain relief. While bilateral splanchnicectomy provides a more permanent pain relief, it is a difficult procedure requiring thoracotomy and results in significant morbidity. Thoracoscopy is an attractive alternative to perform splanchnicectomy. The results of a case series on video assisted thoracoscopic sympathectomies performed at the university surgical unit, Peradeniya, Sri Lanka from January 2011 to June 2013 was analyzed to evaluate the surgical technique and to quantify the efficacy of pain relief. Operating time, blood loss, intraoperative complications, conversion to open surgery, pre-operative and post-operative pain assessment using visual analogue scale score (VAS) were recorded. Seven patients who underwent video assisted thoracoscopic splachnicectomy were analyzed. All had an acceptable operating time (6omin), no measurable blood loss, no conversions to open surgery, no intercostal drainage, early mobilization and feeding. All had an average VAS of 8-10 pre-operatively. This reduced to a VAS of 1 or no pain in all, on post-operative day one, at one and six months. The few who experienced mild pain needed occasional use of paracetamol or diclofenac sodium. Non required narcotic analgesics. Bilateral thoracoscopic splanchnicectomy is a safe, effective and more attractive alternative as it carries a minimum morbidity, mortality and provides an excellent relief of chronic agonizing pancreatic pain.

Clinical survey of splanchnicectomy for pain palliation with advanced pancreatic carcinoma / 中国医师进修杂志

Objective To investigate the clinical effect of splanchnicectomy for pain palliation with advanced pancreatic carcinoma.Methods Altogether 27 cases were treated from January 2005 to February 2008,retrospective study was used to analyze the clinical data of them.All the patients had diverse extent pain,among these 16 cases who had underwent splanchnicectomy (therapy group),others were in control group.Results Pain extent was scored according to visual analogue scale (VAS),preoperative score of therapy group (6.06±1.93) scores,postoperative score 3 months(2.67±1.68) scores,6 months(2.69±1.75) scores,the discrepancy had statistical significance (P<0.01),preoperative score of control group (5.91±1.87) scores,postoperative score 3 months(5.11±2.03) scores,6 months(5.33±2.25) scores,the discrepancy had no statistical significance.Intergroups contrast,showing significant difference (P<0.05).Conclusion For the patients who request to deal with primary disease,splanchnicectomy is manipulated easy,short of complication,significantly relief of pain,and deserve to be spreaded.

Thoracoscopic splanchnicectomy for control pancreatic pain

Background: Intractable pain is the most distressing symptom in patients suffering from unresectable pancreatic carcinoma and chronic pancreatitis and thoracoscopic splanchnicectomy is an emerging method in the past decade for pain control. Objectives: To evaluate the effectiveness and safety of thoracoscopic splanchnicectomy in controlling pain due to pancreatic diseases. Subjects and method: This descriptive, cross-sectional study was carried out between May 2004 and August 2006, on 29 patients with unresectable pancreatic carcinoma and chronic pancreatitis, treated by thoracoscopic splanchnicectomy. Their subjective pain was assessed by visual analogue scale (VAS). Intra- and post- operative complications and mortality, operative time and hospital length also so have been evaluated. Results: Among 29 patients, there were 21 cases of pancreatic carcinoma (11 males and 10 females) and 8 cases of chronic pancreatitis (100% were male). The average operative time was 133.27 \xb1 8.32 min (range 90-270 min). 27 cases (93.1%) underwent bilateral thoracoscopic splanchnicectomy and 2 cases (6.9%) underwent unilateral procedure. There was no death due to procedure. The mean hospital stay was 4.86 \xb1 0.56 days (range, 1\ufffd?3 days). Pain relief was most effective in the 1st week after operations. Conclusion: Thoracoscopic splanchnicectomy is a safe and effective procedure of treating malignant and benign intractable pancreatic pain. It is needed to study long-term efficacy of pain relief for chronic pancreatitis.

A Case of Thoracoscopic Splanchnicectomy for Relief of Intractable Pain in Pancreatic Cancer: A case report / 대한통증학회지

Pancreatic cancer often elicits intractable abdominal pain which has significant negative impact on the quality of life in patients. Various therapeutic modalities including celiac plexus block are being used to alleviate the pain. The anatomic location of the pancreas often hinders the spread of anesthetic or neurolytic solutions by obliterating the retrocrural space, thus making the classic retrocrural approach unsuccessful. The following case describes a patient with intractable abdominal pain originating from advanced pancreatic cancer, which could be managed successfully with thoracoscopic splanchnicectomy after retrocrural celiac plexus block had failed.

Thoracoscopic Splanchnicectomy for Intractable Abdominal Pain

PURPOSE: In patient with intractable abdominal pain due to cancer, with respect to the quality of life, it is often insufficient to relieve pain with the use of analgesics. The development of laparoscopic surgery has made a thoracoscopic splanchnicectomy possible, but the results by using several different methods have varied between different authors. Herein, we introduce a modified method of thoracoscopic splanchnicectomy on the basis of anatomical background from cadaver dissection. METHODS: Sixteen thoracoscopic splanchnicectomies were performed, with the Numerical rating scale (NRS) used for the assessment of pain. The procedure was performed, under general anesthesia, using a double lumen catheter to deflate the lung on the operation side with the patient in the lateral decubitus position. Openings were made in the 7th intercostal space at the postaxillary line for a 12 mm trocar and in the 4th and 5th intercostals spaces for 5 and 2 mm trocars, respectively. The terminal branch of the greater splanchnic nerve ends In 5th intercostal space. Six or seven branches of the splanchnic nerve were cut, dissected downward to just above the diaphragm and then cut. The sympathetic trunk was also cut in this level if the patient suffered from constipation. RESULTS: A splanchicectomy appeared to result in significant reduction of abdominal pain in all cases. The average reduction in the pain score was 78%. There were no postoperative complications. CONCLUSION: A thoracoscopic splanchnicectomy is the treatment of choice for intractable intraabdominal cancer pain, helping with drug cessation or the reduction and recovery of daily activity in most patients.

Thoracoscopic Splanchnicectomy for the Relief of Intractable Upper Abdominal Cancer Pain

PURPOSE: Pain is the most distressing feature of cancer patients. Thoracoscopic splanchnicectomy, first performed in 1993, has caused a resurgence of interest in surgical treatment of such excruciating pain. We wish to introduce a method of splanchnicectomy. METHODS: Five patients underwent a splanchnicectomy for intractable cancer pain, over a period of 11 months. We evaluated the type of splanchnicectomy performed and the results. The procedure was done using a double lumen catheter to deflate the lung at the operation side under general anesthesia with the patient in the lateral decubitus position. A small opening was made with scissors in the pleura of the 5th intercostal space to expose the terminal branch of the greater splanchnic nerve. Six-Seven branches of splanchnic nerve were cut downward until the splanchnic nerve trunk and then cut. A left thoracoscopic splanchnicectomy was done in one case, and a bilateral thoracoscopic splanchnicectomy in four cases. RESULTS: The splanchicectomy appears to result in significant reduction of abdominal pain in all cases. There were no postoperative complications. CONCLUSION: As a conclusion, thoracoscopic splanchnicectomy is the treatment of choice for intractable intraabdominal cancer pain, affording drug cessation and recovery of daily activity in most patients.