CC BY 4.0 · The Arab Journal of Interventional Radiology 2023; 07(S 01): S1-S41
DOI: 10.1055/s-0043-1763427
Category: Nonvascular Interventions

Celiac Plexus Nerve Block in the Management of Intractable Abdominal Pain in Sub-Saharan Africa

Jonathan Ngwira
1   Muhimbili University of Health and Allied Sciences, Dar Es Salaam, Tanzania
,
Jared M. Alswang
2   Harvard Medical School, Boston, Massachusetts, United States
,
Azza Naif
3   Muhimbili National Hospital, Dar Es Salaam, Tanzania
,
Erick M. Mbuguje
3   Muhimbili National Hospital, Dar Es Salaam, Tanzania
,
Balowa Musa
1   Muhimbili University of Health and Allied Sciences, Dar Es Salaam, Tanzania
,
Fabian M. Laage Gaupp
4   Yale University School of Medicine, New Haven, Connecticut, United States
,
Vijay Ramalingam
5   Beth Israel Deaconess Medical Center, Boston, Massachusetts, United States
› Author Affiliations
› Further Information
 

Introduction: Celiac plexus nerve block (CPNB) is a widely utilized procedure to manage intractable abdominal pain and is a preferential adjunct therapy to reduce opioid use and its associated side effects. This study aims to assess the safety and effectiveness of CPNBs as a pain management option in Tanzania.

Method(s): A single-center, retrospective cohort study was conducted on eight patients who underwent CPNBs in Tanzania from January 2021 to May 2022. Patients were selected for the procedure based on pain levels, physical exam, imaging, and opioid requirements. CPNBs were performed under CT-guidance using bupivacaine. Pain levels preprocedure and 1 month postprocedure were assessed using the VAS pain scale. Self-reported reduction of opioid usage for 1 month following procedure was obtained via telephone.

Result(s): Three patients had pancreatic cancer, two gallbladder cancer, one esophageal cancer, and two chronic pancreatitis. All procedures were technically successful and completed without complication. Two were lost to follow-up. 100% reported a reduction of opioid use and pain levels: 9.3 to 2.3 (p < 0.001).

Conclusion(s): Celiac plexus nerve block is a safe and effective option in Tanzania to reduce pain and opioid consumption in intractable cancer and noncancer related abdominal pain.



Publication History

Article published online:
09 February 2023

© 2023. The Author(s). This is an open access article published by Thieme under the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution License, permitting unrestricted use, distribution, and reproduction so long as the original work is properly cited. (https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/)

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