Relief of pancreatic pain by radiography-guided block.

A 7-year experience with radiography-guided blockade of the celiac ganglia in patients suffering from pancreatic pain is described; 36 patients had carcinoma of the pancreas and nine had chronic pancreatitis. The importance of fluoroscopic guidance of deposition of the blocking agent is stressed. The success rate of this procedure is similar to operative intervention for interruption of the pathways of pain conduction. Radiography-guided celiac ganglion block along with enzymatic substitution for increasing pancreatic insufficiency are recommended for effective palliative treatment.