Neurolytic Celiac Plexus Blockade in Patients with Upper Intraabdominal Malignancies: An Evidence-Based Narrative Review

Authors

Kevin Wong, Desert Orthopedic CenterFollow
Apollo A. Stack, University of Nebraska Medical CenterFollow
Madhuri Are, University of Nebraska Medical CenterFollow

Document Type

Literature Review (Systematic or Meta-Analysis)

Disciplines

Higher Education | Medicine and Health Sciences

Abstract

Background: Cancer-related abdominal pain is a common symptom associated with upper intra-abdominal carcinoma, especially in patients with advanced disease and it has posed a significant therapeutic challenge to medical practitioners. Typically, cancer pain can be managed by following the World Health Organization 3-step analgesic ladder. However, analgesic use of opioids, the mainstay treatment for moderate-to-severe cancer-related pain, may be ineffective in a subset of cancer patients. Escalation of dosage may be limited by opioid-induced side effects. The aim of this study was to review the literature addressing the effect of neurolytic celiac plexus block (NCPB) on the palliation of pain emanating from advanced upper intra-abdominal malignancies.

Methods: Electronic databases including Medline/PubMed, EMBASE, and Cochrane Library were searched. Only studies with a high level of evidence were reviewed. These included prospective randomized control studies, systematic reviews and meta-analyses. Further, references from included articles were carefully reviewed for additional relevant trials.

Results: A total of 13 prospective randomized trials, 5 systematic reviews and meta-analyses, and one Cochrane review article were found to meet eligibility criteria.

Conclusion: Neurolysis of the celiac/splanchnic plexus is an effective and safe therapeutic modality that should be considered early for palliation of cancer-related pain in advanced upper intra-abdominal malignancies. This is especially true for patients with intolerable opioid-induced adverse events and painful symptoms resistant to oral analgesics.

DOI

10.32873/unmc.dc.gmerj.2.2.005

Keywords

Cancer, abdominal pain, evidence-based medicine, autonomic nerve block, analgesia, neurolysis, opioids, sympathetic nervous system

Creative Commons License

This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-Noncommercial-No Derivative Works 4.0 License.

Recommended Citation

Wong, K., Stack, A. A., , Are, M. Neurolytic Celiac Plexus Blockade in Patients with Upper Intraabdominal Malignancies: An Evidence-Based Narrative Review. Graduate Medical Education Research Journal. 2020 Dec 09; 2(2).
https://digitalcommons.unmc.edu/gmerj/vol2/iss2/5