CC BY-NC-ND 4.0 · Journal of Digestive Endoscopy 2013; 04(04): 099-102
DOI: 10.4103/0976-5042.132394
Review Article
Society of Gastrointestinal Endoscopy of India

EUS-guided celiac plexus neurolysis/block

Narendra S. Choudhary
Institute of Digestive and Hepatobiliary Sciences Medanta, The Medicity, Gurgaon, Haryana, India
,
Rajesh Puri
Institute of Digestive and Hepatobiliary Sciences Medanta, The Medicity, Gurgaon, Haryana, India
› Author Affiliations
Further Information

Publication History

Publication Date:
26 September 2019 (online)

Abstract

Refractory chronic abdominal pain as a result of inoperable pancreatic cancer or chronic pancreatitis poses a formidable challenge and can be effectively relieved with celiac axis block or celiac plexus neurolysis (CPN). Percutaneous celiac plexus block (CPB) or computed tomography (CT)-guidance using anterior or posterior approaches has some limitations. However, endoultrasound (EUS)-guided CPB has evolved itself as an effective and safe procedure for management of refractory abdominal pain. The EUS offers advantages, which include accurate anatomic imaging, real-time monitoring of injection, and anterior approach, which avoids neurologic complications. The CPN can be combined with staging and fine-needle aspiration cytology (FNAC) of a malignancy in the same session. The present review discusses anatomic details of celiac axis block, procedure-related details, complications, contraindications, comparison to other modalities, and results of various studies and author’s experience of EUS guided CPB/neurolysis.

 
  • References

  • 1 Fujita Y, Sari A. Max Kappis and the celiac plexus block. Anesthesiology 1997;86:508.
  • 2 Kambadakone A, Thabet A, Gervais DA, Mueller PR, Arellano RS. CT-guided celiac plexus neurolysis: A review of anatomy, indications, technique, and tips for successful treatment. Radiographics 2011;31:1599-621.
  • 3 Erdine S. Celiac ganglion block. Agri 2005;17:14-22.
  • 4 Jain P, Dutta A, Sood J. Coeliac plexus blockade and neurolysis: An overview. Indian J Anaesth 2006;50:169-77.
  • 5 Michaels AJ, Draganov PV. Endoscopic ultrasonography guided celiac plexus neurolysis and celiac plexus block in the management of pain due to pancreatic cancer and chronic pancreatitis. World J Gastroenterol 2007;13:3575-80.
  • 6 Varadarajulu S, Wallace MB. Applications of endoscopic ultrasonography in pancreatic cancer. Cancer Control 2004;11:15-22.
  • 7 Wang PJ, Shang MY, Qian Z, Shao CW, Wang JH, Zhao XH. CT-guided percutaneous neurolytic celiac plexus block technique. Abdom Imaging 2006;31:710-8.
  • 8 Caratozzolo M, Lirici MM, Consalvo M, Marzano F, Fumarola E, Angelini L. Ultrasound-guided alcoholization of celiac plexus for pain control in oncology. Surg Endosc 1997;11:239-44.
  • 9 Ward EM, Rorie DK, Nauss LA, Bahn RC. The celiac ganglia in man: Normal anatomic variations. Anesth Analg 1979;58:461-5.
  • 10 Zhang XM, Zhao QH, Zeng NL, Cai CP, Xie XG, Li CJ, et al. The celiac ganglia: Anatomic study using MRI in cadavers. AJR Am J Roentgenol 2006;186:1520-3.
  • 11 Mercadante S, Nicosia F. Celiac plexus block: A reappraisal. Reg Anesth Pain Med 1998;23:37-48.
  • 12 Loukas M, Klaassen Z, Merbs W, Tubbs RS, Gielecki J, Zurada A. A review of the thoracic splanchnic nerves and celiac ganglia. Clin Anat 2010;23:512-22.
  • 13 Soweid AM, Azar C. Endoscopic ultrasound-guided celiac plexus neurolysis. World J Gastrointest Endosc 2010;2:228-31.
  • 14 Hoffman BJ. EUS-guided celiac plexus block/neurolysis. Gastrointest Endosc 2002;56:S26-8.
  • 15 Gerke H, Silva RG Jr, Shamoun D, Johnson CJ, Jensen CS. EUS characteristics of celiac ganglia with cytologic and histologic confirmation. Gastrointest Endosc 2006;64:35-9.
  • 16 Ha TI, Kim GH, Kang DH, Song GA, Kim S, Lee JW. Detection of celiac ganglia with radial scanning endoscopic ultrasonography. Korean J Intern Med 2008;23:5-8.
  • 17 Gleeson FC, Levy MJ, Papachristou GI, Pelaez-Luna M, Rajan E, Clain JE, et al. Frequency of visualization of presumed celiac ganglia by endoscopic ultrasound. Endoscopy 2007;39:620-4.
  • 18 Levy MJ, Wiersema MJ. EUS-guided celiac plexus neurolysis and celiac plexus block. Gastrointest Endosc 2003;57:923-30.
  • 19 Murad F, Levy MJ, Topazian M. Indications, preparation, risks, and complications. In: Hawes RH, Fockens P, Varadarajulu S, editors. Endosonography. 2nd ed. Philadelphia: Elsevier Saunders; 2011. p. 29-37.
  • 20 Wiechowska-Kozłowska A, Boer K, Wójcicki M, Milkiewicz P. The efficacy and safety of endoscopic ultrasound-guided celiac plexus neurolysis for treatment of pain in patients with pancreatic cancer. Gastroenterol Res Pract 2012;2012:503098.
  • 21 LeBlanc JK, Al-Haddad M, McHenry L, Sherman S, Juan M, McGreevy K, et al. A prospective, randomized study of EUS-guided celiac plexus neurolysis for pancreatic cancer: One injection or two? Gastrointest Endosc 2011;74:1300-7.
  • 22 Ascunce G, Ribeiro A, Reis I, Rocha-Lima C, Sleeman D, Merchan J, et al. EUS visualization and direct celiac ganglia neurolysis predicts better pain relief in patients with pancreatic malignancy (with video). Gastrointest Endosc 2011;73:267-74.
  • 23 Wyse JM, Carone M, Paquin SC, Usatii M, Sahai AV. Randomized, double-blind, controlled trial of early endoscopic ultrasound-guided celiac plexus neurolysis to prevent pain progression in patients with newly diagnosed, painful, inoperable pancreatic cancer. J Clin Oncol 2011;29:3541-6.
  • 24 Iwata K, Yasuda I, Enya M, Mukai T, Nakashima M, Doi S, et al. Predictive factors for pain relief aft er endoscopic ultrasound-guided celiac plexus neurolysis. Dig Endosc 2011;23:140-5.
  • 25 Gunaratnam NT, Sarma AV, Norton ID, Wiersema MJ. A prospective study of EUS-guided celiac plexus neurolysis for pancreatic cancer pain. Gastrointest Endosc 2001;54:316-24.
  • 26 Sakamoto H, Kitano M, Kamata K, Komaki T, Imai H, Chikugo T, et al. EUS-guided broad plexus neurolysis over the superior mesenteric artery using a 25-gauge needle. Am J Gastroenterol 2010;105:2599-606.
  • 27 Santosh D, Lakhtakia S, Gupta R, Reddy DN, Rao GV, Tandan M, et al. Clinical trial: A randomized trial comparing fluoroscopy guided percutaneous technique vs. endoscopic ultrasound guided technique of coeliac plexus block for treatment of pain in chronic pancreatitis. Aliment Pharmacol Ther 2009;29:979-84.
  • 28 Gress F, Schmitt C, Sherman S, Ciaccia D, Ikenberry S, Lehman G. Endoscopic ultrasound-guided celiac plexus block for managing abdominal pain associated with chronic pancreatitis: A prospective single center experience. Am J Gastroenterol 2001;96:409-16.
  • 29 Gress F, Schmitt C, Sherman S, Ikenberry S, Lehman G. A prospective randomized comparison of endoscopic ultrasound- and computed tomography-guided celiac plexus block for managing chronic pancreatitis pain. Am J Gastroenterol 1999;94:900-5.
  • 30 Wiersema MJ, Wiersema LM. Endosonography-guided celiac plexus neurolysis. Gastrointest Endosc 1996;44:656-62.
  • 31 Puli SR, Reddy JB, Bechtold ML, Antillon MR, Brugge WR. EUS-guided celiac plexus neurolysis for pain due to chronic pancreatitis or pancreatic cancer pain: A meta-analysis and systematic review. Dig Dis Sci 2009;54:2330-7.
  • 32 Gunaratnam NT, Wong GY, Wiersema MJ. EUS-guided celiac plexus block for the management of pancreatic pain. Gastrointest Endosc 2000;52:S28-34.
  • 33 O’Toole TM, Schmulewitz N. Complication rates of EUS-guided celiac plexus blockade and neurolysis: Results of a large case series. Endoscopy 2009;41:593-7.
  • 34 Gafanovich I, Shir Y, Tsvang E, Ben-Chetrit E. Chronic diarrhea-induced by celiac plexus block? J Clin Gastroenterol 1998;26:300-2.
  • 35 Ift ikhar S, Loft us EV Jr. Gastroparesis aft er celiac plexus block. Am J Gastroenterol 1998;93:2223-5.
  • 36 Navarro-Martinez J, Montes A, Comps O, Sitges-Serra A. Retroperitoneal abscess aft er neurolytic celiac plexus block from the anterior approach. Reg Anesth Pain Med 2003;28:528-30.
  • 37 Loeve US, Mortensen MB. Lethal necrosis and perforation of the stomach and the aorta aft er multiple EUS-guided celiac plexus neurolysis procedures in a patient with chronic pancreatitis. Gastrointest Endosc 2013;77:151-2.
  • 38 Nagels W, Pease N, Bekkering G, Cools F, Dobbels P. Celiac plexus neurolysis for abdominal cancer pain: A systematic review. Pain Med 2013;14:1140-63.
  • 39 Lieb JG 2nd, Forsmark CE. Review article: Pain and chronic pancreatitis. Aliment Pharmacol Ther 2009;29:706-19.