[Indications of analgesia with absolute alcohol or phenol for intractable pain in thoracic and abdominal cancerous pathology (author's transl)].

This work analyzes the results of 88 blocks for intractable pain in thoracic and abdominal malignant diseases. Results and duration of analgesia are compared in regard to the localization of pain and to the use of alcohol or phenol. Best analgesic results are obtained in the pelvic pains and especially in the colorectal pains. The analgesic results and the duration of analgesia are poorer since the spinal nerves to block are higher, there are only 50 p. cent of good results in the thoracic region. Analgesic results are the same with alcohol or phenol, but duration of analgesia seems to be longer with phenol. The two routes of administration, subarachnoid or epidural, seem to give equal results. Motor paralysis of the bladder or the rectum may occur, especially in the low pelvic localizations and these complications justify careful selection of the indication.