US and fluoroscopy guided celian plexus block

Journal of Korean Society of Medical Ultrasound 1994;13(1): 76-80.

ABSTRACT

To avoid complications and confirm the correct position of the needle, we developed a new technique, theultrasonography (US) and fluoroscopy guided transabdominal celiac plexus block (CPB), that can be performed on thesupine position during other interventional procedure. We performed the US guided CPB by using 10-33cc of absolutealcohol in 13 terminal cancer patients(8 pancreatic and 5 gastric cancers) with uncontrollable upper abdominalpain. Prior to alcohol injection, we initially made trial block with local anesthetics, and injected water solublecontrast media for the roadmapping under fluoroscopy. Seven patients(53.8%) showed complete relief of pain atleast for a week after CPB. maximal duration of painless period was 50 days (average 21 days). Even afterrecurrence of pain, its character and severity were milder than those of initial episode. Partial relief of painwas noted in 4 cases(30.7%). Two cases were failed. No major complications occured. There were minor complicationssuch as general ache, fever, diarrhea and pain on right scapular area, which subsided within a few days. Inconclusion, US and fluoroscopy guided transabdominal CPB is an easy, inexpensive, safe and effective method inrelieving intractable abdominal pain in terminal cancer patients.

Keywords: Ultrasound(US),guidance