This Procedureis an excellent non surgical treatment option for patients with intractable abdominal pain due to upper abdominal cancer or pancreatitis. Most of these patients suffer severe pain, affecting their quality of life. Usually they are on high doses of pain medications and consequently are suffering by serious side effects like confusion, constipation, nausea etc. This procedure can give long lasting improvement in abdominal pain and it also decreases use of narcotics, and other pain medicine.
How is Coeliac Plexus : Chemical Neurolysisperformed?
This procedure is performed in a well equipped procedure room with monitoring and resuscitation facilities. Under local anaesthesia and image guidance like CT scan, X-ray or Ultrasonography for accuracy, Needle is placed surrounding the coeliac plexus, a bundle of abdominal nerves located behind the pancreas. Here drugs used are Local anaesthetics like Bupivacaine or lignocaine initially, followed by 20 to 50 ml of ethanol with concentration of 50-100%. Because of that the nerves can no longer send pain messages to brain and so patient no longer feel discomfort.
The entire procedure takes about 30 to 60 minutes.Patient start feeling pain relief very shortly after the procedure. After observation period patient is free to go home.
What are the Benefits of Coeliac Plexus : Chemical Neurolysis?
This is a safe, well tolerated procedure. There are very few side effects. After the procedure patient have no pain or greatly reduced pain . For some patients this can completely eliminate the need to take pain medication.
How long the relief last after Coeliac Plexus : Chemical Neurolysis ?
Duration varies from patient to patient. In most case it lasts for 2 to 6 months.
What are the side effects of Coeliac Plexus : Chemical Neurolysis?
Most common Side effects include: little pain at injection site, diarrhoea, low blood pressure, infection, allergic reactions. They are short lasting and can be treated well.
Some rare serious side effects like injury to vital organs like kidney, big vessels, are possible.
Which Patients are benefited by -Coeliac Plexus : Chemical Neurolysis Procedure ?
Patients with severepain due to abdomen cancer arising fromcancer pancreas, stomach, gallbladder, intestine, liver etc. It is useful for patients during their active treatment for cancer like chemotherapy, radiotherapy. It is also advised for patients who have completed treatment, or are terminally ill.
It also helps for patients with chronic pancreatitis.
