Alcohol Celiac Plexus Block for Upper Abdominal Cancer Pain / 대한마취과학회지

ABSTRACT

Celiac plexus block for upper abdominal cancer pain was performed on 26 patients from April, 1977 to April, ]979 at the Pain Clinic of Yonsei Medical Center. Patients were placed in prone position and the location of the tip of needles was conformed by fluoroscopy and on image intensifier. Immediately after the assesment of the effect of test blocks with 1% lidocaine, permaneat blocks with 50% aIcohol were performed. The results obtained were as follows 1} Under flouroscopic control, the interval from the test to the permanent block was less than 15 min, thus economical in both time and expense. Also no patient refused the alcohol block after the test block and alcohol injection was painless. 2) The test and permanent blocks were effective in all cases, but repeated permanent block was necessary in 7 cases within 2 weeks after the initial alcohol block. 3) As to complications, hypotension, nausea and face flushing developed in 10, 3 and 8 cases respectively. There were no postponements and no mortality. 4) These cases were discharged from hospital without pain 2 to 18 days after block. 5) Two cases with recurrent cancer pain had repeated alcohol block with excellent effect 3 and 6 months after the initial alcohol block. 6) The block to death interval was l to 4 months in 6 cases in which follow up was possible. From the above results. we may conclude that by using fluoroscopyic control with needle placement only once, the test and permanent blocks were performed safely, effectively and painlessly.