A retrospective analysis of neurolytic celiac plexus block for nonpancreatic intra-abdominal cancer pain.

Neurolytic celiac plexus block (NCPB) has been reported to be an effective method for pain relief for a variety of intra-abdominal malignancies, especially pancreatic. In spite of this, few data exist concerning efficacy of the block for pain related to other intraabdominal tumors. The author analyzed the quality of pain relief obtained and complications during the use of NCPB in 66 patients with nonpancreatic intraabdominal malignancies. Seventy-three percent of the patients with nonpancreatic cancer pain had good pain relief, which in 59% of cases lasted through the remaining life of the patients. The incidence of neurologic injury (footdrop) was less than 0.5%. This therapy deserves more widespread use in patients with abdominal pain secondary to a variety of other malignancies, in addition to that of the pancreas.