• The Korean Journal of Pain
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• v.2 no.1
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• pp.42-44
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• 1989

The present case of acute and severe pneumothorax during celiac plexus block appears to be an extremely rare occurrence. In this case, the rudimentary 12th rib in addition to the sacralization of the 5th lumber vertebra are the most likely causes of the inadvertent misplacement of the needle.

• The Korean Journal of Pain
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• v.6 no.1
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• pp.129-132
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• 1993

Paraplegia complicating a block of the celiac plexus with alcohol for recurrent stomach cancer is described. A 33 year old male patient was admitted to control for severe epigastric pain. With the patient in prone position, the needle was advanced further than 2 cm on the anterior margin of $L_1$ vertebral body under fluoroscopy. 3 ml of 1% lidocaine and 5 ml of conray were injected through each needle, and the diffusion of the contrast medium was checked, This was followed by 7 ml of pure alcohol and 8 ml of 50% alcohol for each needle. At that time, the patient was very satisfied with loss of abdominal pain. About 30 minutes after injection of alcohol, suddenly patient complained of severe burning pain on back and both extremities. Thereafter, loss of sensation and paralysis in both extremities were developed slowly. The senstivity to cold recovered 3 days after block. By the 33rd day after the block, sensation had recovered in both extremities, the bladder and rectum. Movement of the right ankle joint and left great toe was also possible.

• The Korean Journal of Pain
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• v.2 no.2
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• pp.135-144
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• 1989

Celiac plexus block is recommended in patients with intractable upper abdominal cancer pain. The success rate of a celiac plexus block is variable among the authors. One of the causes of this is the anatomical variations of the celiac plexus. There has not been a study concerning anatomical observations of the celiac plexus in Korean cadavers. So, anatomical dissections were performed and observations were made of the celiac plexus and related structures in Korean cadavers. The results were as follows: 1) The subjects were 21 male bodies and 5 female bodies. The mean age at death was $69.9{\pm}15.5$ years (range 37~93). The mean height was $155.5{\pm}8.3\;cm$ (range 143~172). 2) The number of celiac ganglia ranged from 1~4. The mean numbers were $2.3{\pm}1.9$ in the right plexus and $1.9{\pm}0.8$ in the left, and the mean sizes were $18.9{\pm}7.7{\times}8.0{\pm}3.8\;mm^2$ and $18.5{\pm}8.3{\times}9.5{\pm}3.9\;mm^2$ respectively. 3) Celiac ganglia were most frequently located at the level of the upper third and middle third of L1 in both sides (65.5% in right, 64.0% in left). The vertical range of celiac ganglia ranged from 1 space, which is one third the height of one vertebral body, to 4 spaces. Mean vertical ranges were $1.5{\pm}0.6$ spaces in the right plexus and $1.6{\pm}0.7$ spaces in the left. The celiac ganglia located at the level of the upper third of L1 in the right and the lower third of L1 in the left side, had the largest vertical ranges respectively ($1.8{\pm}0.5$ spaces in right, $2.3{\pm}0.6$ spaces in left) 4) Right side celiac ganglia were located near the midline of the vertebrae compared to the left ones (mean 5.0 mm) The horizontal dimension was greater in the right ganglia ($24.2{\pm}9.2\;mm$) than in the left ganglia ($l8.8{\pm}7.0\;mm$). 5) There was no vertebral level difference between both celiac ganglia in most cases (60%). However, of the 40% of cases at different levels, in half of these (20%) the right ganglia were located higher than the left ganglia; and in the other 20%, this was reversed. 6) The origin sites of the celiac artery were most frequently in the upper third and middle third of L1 (61.6%). The celiac ganglia were usually located at the same level as the site of origin of the celiac artery (61.6% in right, 52.0% in left). 7) The vertebral level of the splanchnic nerves piercing the abdominal surface of the diaphragm was most frequently in the upper third and middle third of L1 (66.6% in right, 66.7% in left). 8) The level of the origin of diaphragmatic crura from the anterior surface of the vertebral bodies varied from the L1-L2 interspace to the L3-L4 interspace. Right crura most frequently originated at the level of the lower third of L2 to the upper third of L3 (57.6%), while left crura originated from the level of the L2-L3 interspace to the middle third of L3 (69.3%). From the above results, we realized that there were some anatomical variations of the celiac plexus and its relations to adjacent structures in Korean bodies. However, when the needle point is behind the anterior margin of the upper third of L1, it is possible to perform a successful retrocrural splanchnic nerve block.

• The Korean Journal of Pain
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• v.12 no.1
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• pp.87-94
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• 1999

Backgroud: We have performed the CT-guided celiac plexus block (CPB) using anterior approach to evaluate the safety and efficacy of the procedure and to determine the role of CT. Methods: CPB were done in 10 patients (5 men and 5 women: mean age, 58.1 years) with intractable upper abdominal pain due to terminal malignancy of the stomach (n=3), pancreas (n=4), gallbladder (n=2), and liver (n=1). To permit an anterior approach, patients lay supine on the CT scan table during the procedure. One 21-guage Chiba needle was placed just anterior to the diaphragmatic crus between the celiac and superior mesenteric arteries and 10~12 ml of dehydrated alcohol was injected. Degree of pain relief following the procedure was assessed and pain was graded on a numeric rating scale (NRS) from 0 to 10. Results: The results suggest a direct relation between the degree of celiac invasion and the response to the CPB. With CT guidance, it is possible for us to direct the needle into more accurate region, allowing alcohol to be deposited in specific ganglion area. Conclusions: CT-guided CPB using an anterior approach was an easy and effective way of reducing intractable upper abdominal pain due to terminal malignancies. CT-guidance allowed precise needle placement and safe procedure. Careful classification of cases is important to predict the degree of pain relief using the grading system based on the degree of involvement of the celiac plexus.

• The Korean Journal of Pain
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• v.3 no.1
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• pp.1-3
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• 1990

• The Korean Journal of Pain
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• v.6 no.2
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• pp.199-203
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• 1993

Inferior mesenteric plexus block(IMPB) is a nerve block for lower abdominal pain originating from GI tract of distal transverse colon to sigmoid colon and other polvic organ where the inferior mesenteric plexus contains visceral afferent fibers of that organ. We performed IMPB on two patients with lower abdominal pain. Case I: 61 year old female diagnosed with cancer of stomach and uterine cervix and carcinomatosis, experienced complete relief from pain for a period of 7 months after IMPB. Case II: male, 28 years old, who had contracted cancer of the descending colon with obstructive jaundice and pancreatitis had complained of pain in the whole of the abdominal area. IMPB was performed for lower abdominal pain. Seven days after, a celiac plexus block was also performed for upper abdominal pain. The patient complained of recurring pain in the left & upper lower abdomen 30 days after the IMPB. The intensity of the pain was visual analogue scale 4 and it was managed by continuous epidural block. Conclusion: It is our recommendation that IMPB is a reliable method for treatment of lower abdominal pain originating from malignant condition of GI tract from distal transverse colon to sigmoid colon and urinary bladder.

• The Korean Journal of Pain
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• v.8 no.1
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• pp.144-148
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• 1995

Inferior mesenteric plexus block(IMPB) sa useful nerve block for the relief of intractable lower abdominal and pelvic pain caused by a lower abdominal visceral or a pelvic malignancy. IMPB has been performed in the prone position. But there are many patients who can't lie in the prone position, because ascites is frequently noticed in cancer patients and they also frequently received abdominal operations. We performed IMPB in the lateral position on two patients with lower abdominal pain, Case 1: A 77 year old female who had a right ovarian cancer with metastatic cancer of descending colon and rectum, experienced complete pain relief. Case 2: A 72 year old female who had a far advance pancreatic cancer with intestinal obstruction due to carcinomatosis received right and left celiac plexus block and right and left IMPB. The patient was satisfied with the result of these pain blocks. Conclusion; IMAPB performed in the lateral position on two patients with lower abdominal pain and their results were excellent for pain relief.

• The Korean Journal of Pain
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• v.1 no.2
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• pp.164-170
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• 1988

Neurolysis of the celiac plexus is performed to relieve intractable pain caused by carcinoma of the stomach, liver and pancreas, and upper abdominal metastasis of tumors having more distant origins. It is also occasionally effective in controlling the pain of chronic pancreatitis. Alcohol celiac plexus blocks were done in 22 patients of whom 18 had intractable upper abdominal pain from cancer and 4 had pain from chronic pancreatitis. In most cases, an initial diagnostic block with 0.2 percent bupivacaine was followed by the therapeuntic block performed by injecting 50ml of 60 percent ethyl alcohol. Good to excellent pain relief occurred in 86 percent of patients. Duration of pain relief was from 4 months to 7 months in 55 percent of patients. Complications and side effects were infrequently seen but did include a 16 percent decrease of mean systolic arterial pressure and 16 cases of facial flushing. This block is remarkably safe as well as effective for the relief of upper abdominal pain from cancer origin.

• The Korean Journal of Pain
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• v.5 no.1
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• pp.17-22
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• 1992

Splanchnic nerve block(SNP) is performed to relieve intractable upper abdominal cancer pain. Boas, in a technique using fluoroscopy, was the first to note the difference between transcrural celiac plexus block and retrocrural splanchnic nerve block(SNB). We have experienced 10 cases of SNB at the T12 level under control of fluoroscopy. Our results support this approach as an effective method for upper abdominal cancer pain control.

• The Korean Journal of Pain
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• v.19 no.1
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• pp.111-114
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• 2006

Pancreatic cancer often elicits intractable abdominal pain which has significant negative impact on the quality of life in patients. Various therapeutic modalities including celiac plexus block are being used to alleviate the pain. The anatomic location of the pancreas often hinders the spread of anesthetic or neurolytic solutions by obliterating the retrocrural space, thus making the classic retrocrural approach unsuccessful. The following case describes a patient with intractable abdominal pain originating from advanced pancreatic cancer, which could be managed successfully with thoracoscopic splanchnicectomy after retrocrural celiac plexus block had failed.