A case of transient paraplegia following celiac plexus block with alcohol: A case report

ABSTRACT

A 61-year-old man who had cholangiocarcinoma with multiple metastasises was referred to our hospital for his pain control.Celiac plexus block with 99.9% alcohol was performed by the retrocrural approach under fluoroscopic guidance.Examination of the patient at fifteen minutes after successfully performing the diagnostic block showed no sensory or motor change.Forty-eight hours after the neurolysis, the patient's lower extremities were totally paralyzed, and he could not walk nor control his anal sphincter.But thereafter he progressively recovered.Five days after celiac plexus neurolysis, he was able to walk with support from one hand.Reversible ischemia of the spinal cord due to damage to the Adamkiewicz arterial blood supply was thought to be the cause.