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A celiac plexus block can be used to treat intractable pain from upper abdominal cancers. The most commonly and
effectively treated cancer with celiac plexus blocks is pancreatic cancer and associated metastasis.
Procedure:
The celiac plexus block can be performed in many ways. One of the most common ways to block the celiac plexus is the
posterior approach. After lying down flat on your abdomen, your skin is anesthetized and a needle is inserted to the side
of your vertebrae. The needle is advanced under x-ray guidance and when the tip is in the correct position a second
needle is placed on the opposite side of the vertebrae. Contrast dye and local anesthetic are injected. A successful
block is marked by profound pain relief. Your physician may also place another medication, alcohol or phenol that is used
to destroy nerves for prolonged pain relief.
The procedure usually takes less than thirty minutes. Sometimes your physician will recommend intravenous sedation to
make the procedure more comfortable. Your physician will monitor your pain and vital signs (pulse, blood pressure,
temperature) after the procedure.
Benefit:
Certain nerve blocks may help relieve pain conditions due to cancer. In patients with unresectable pancreatic cancer,
nerve blocks are associated with improved pain control and reduced pain medication compared with standard treatment
(Yan 2007).
Celiac plexus blocks are a minimally invasive treatment that effectively relieves severe pain for many people. The pain
relief allows many people to regain the ability to resume their normal daily activities.
Risk:
Celiac plexus blocks are considered an appropriate non surgical treatment for many patients who suffer from severe
abdominal pain. The risks for the procedure are typically low, but can include misplacement of the needle, bleeding,
infection, pneumothorax (collapsed lung), puncture of surrounding organs, puncture of adjacent vessels, drug allergy,
nerve damage and/or paralysis. The most common side-effects related to the procedure are hypotension and transient
diarrhea.
Outcomes:
Celiac plexus blocks are effective in relieving chronic abdominal pain, especially originating from malignancies of the
pancreas, liver, gallbladder, omentum, mesentery, and alimentary tract from the stomach to the large colon (Erdine 2005).
Pain from these areas is not easily treated by oral pain medications. When conservative treatments have been
exhausted or side-effects are experienced from oral medications, celiac plexus blocks are an extremely powerful option.
In relation to terminal cancers, celiac plexus block alone is capable of providing complete pain relief until death in a many
cases and, therefore, should be considered as an adjuvant pain treatment. Failure of the block may be due to tumor
metastasizing outside of the celiac plexus innervation (Mercadante 1998).
The benefits of celiac plexus blocks can be temporary for some people and the amount and duration of pain relief vary
from person to person. Some tend to have relief for weeks where others can benefit from the block for years.
Fortunately, the procedure is a low risk, non surgical treatment that if successful the first time, will most likely continue to
provide pain relief with repeat treatments.
If you are suffering with pain contact Arizona Pain Specialists today to see if you can benefit from a celiac plexus block.
We are happy to offer this exciting treatment option to patients in Scottsdale and the phoenix metro area. Call today.
Journal Articles:
Neurolytic celiac plexus block for pain control in unresectable pancreatic cancer. Yan BM, Myers RP. Am J Gastroenterol.
2007 Feb;102(2):430-8. Epub 2006 Nov 13 PMID: 17100960
Celiac ganglion block. Erdine S. Agri. 2005 Jan;17(1):14-22 PMID: 15791495
Celiac plexus block: a reappraisal. Mercadante S, Nicosia F. Reg Anesth Pain Med. 1998 Jan-Feb;23(1):37-48.
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Celiac Plexus Blocks
by Nicole Berardoni M.D, Paul Lynch M.D, and Tory McJunkin M.D
A celiac plexus block is commonly performed for abdominal pain
and especially effective for pancreatic cancer pain. The celiac
plexus is a bundle of nerves located in front of the diaphragm
and behind the stomach near the celiac artery and the abdominal
aorta. The celiac plexus innervates the liver, pancreas,
gallbladder, stomach, spleen, kidneys, intestines, adrenal glands,
and blood vessels. Blocking this region can relieve pain caused
by one of these organs.
by Nicole Berardoni M.D, Paul Lynch M.D, and Tory McJunkin M.D
A celiac plexus block is commonly performed for abdominal pain
and especially effective for pancreatic cancer pain. The celiac
plexus is a bundle of nerves located in front of the diaphragm
and behind the stomach near the celiac artery and the abdominal
aorta. The celiac plexus innervates the liver, pancreas,
gallbladder, stomach, spleen, kidneys, intestines, adrenal glands,
and blood vessels. Blocking this region can relieve pain caused
by one of these organs.
Chapter 1 Low Back Pain
Chapter 2 Neck Pain
Chapter 3 Cancer Pain
Chapter 4 Headaches
Chapter 5 Spinal Stenosis
Chapter 6 Sciatica
Chapter 7 Arthritis
Chapter 8 Fibromyalgia
Chapter 9 Motor Vehicle Injuries
Chapter 10 Complex Regional Pain
Syndrome
Chapter 11 Vertebral Body
Fractures
Chapter 12 Hip and Leg Pain
Chapter 13 Diabetic Peripheral
Neuropathy
Book II - Interventional Procedures
Chapter 14 Epidural Steroid
Injection
Chapter 15 Facet Injections/Medial
Branch Blocks
Chapter 16 Radiofrequency Ablation
Chapter 17 Spinal Cord Stimulator
Implants
Chapter 18 IntraDiscal
Electrothermal Therapy (IDET)
Chapter 19
Vertebroplasty/Kyphoplasty
Chapter 20 Discography
Chapter 21 Percutaneous
Discectomy
Chapter 22 Occipital Nerve Block
Chapter 23 Sympathetic Block
Chapter 24 Stellate Ganglion Block
Chapter 25 Intrathecal Pump
Implants
Chapter 26 Caudal Steroid Injection
Chapter 27 Adhesiolysis
Chapter 28 Cervical Steroid
Injection
Chapter 29 Sacroiliac Joint
Injections
Chapter 30 Celiac Plexus Block
Chapter 31 Head and Neck
Procedures
Chapter 32 Joint Injections
Chapter 33 Continuous Catheter
Nerve Blocks
Chapter 34 Peripheral Nerve
Stimulation/Field Stimulation
Chapter 35 Disc Denervation
Book III Other Treatments
Chapter 36 Medication Management
Chapter 37 Acupuncture
Chapter 38 Prolotherapy
Chapter 39 Botox
Chapter 40 Massage
Chapter 41 Alternative and
Complementary Medicines
Chapter 42 Exercise and Nutrition
Counseling
Chapter 43 Prayer
Chapter 44 Cognitive Behavioral
Therapy
Chapter 45 Group Therapy
Chapter 46 Biofeedback
Chapter 47 Chiropractic
Manipulations
Chapter 48 Vitamin Supplements
Chapter 49 Customized
Pharmaceutical Formulations
Chapter 50 Hormone Therapy
Frequently Asked Questions