To compare between the efficacy of radiofrequency splanchnic denervation and neurolytic retrocrural celiac plexus block in chronic upper abdominal cancer pain
Abdominal cancers are not uncommon, according to WHO latest updates in cancer epidemiology published in 2020, the percentage of new cases incidence is rapidly increasing as follow: Colon (6.0%), Stomach (5.6%), Liver (4.7%), Esophagus (3.1%), Pancreas (2.6%), and Gall bladder (0.6%). Pain is one of the chief complains in cancer patients and the leading cause for seeking medical advice. In abdominal malignancies, visceral pain is poorly localized due to both fewer receptors participating in the process of visceral pain and the scarce representation within the primary somatosensory cortex. The challenge in identifying the pain generators and effectively treat this condition explains the tendency for abdominal pain to become chronic and frustration associated with its management for both the patient and the health care provider. Effective analgesia has become sometimes difficult to institute in abdominal cancer patients because the dose-response is unpredictable and the analgesic doses may be poorly tolerated in patients who are debilitated and using several other drugs as they are usually old age, complaining of nausea, repeated vomiting, and dehydration, elevated liver enzymes especially in liver affection by primary or secondary lesions. Many patients may have residual symptoms that impact their quality of life despite thoughtful pharmacologic and surgical treatment. So, Non pharmacologic strategies, including physical therapy, integrated and complementary medicine, lifestyle modifications, and interventional procedures may also be useful adjuncts to surgical and pharmacologic therapy. Thus, the neurolytic sympathetic block has been proposed as an efficient, relatively simple, and repeatable method of management, bringing both relief of pain and allowing the discontinuation of drugs or at least a decrease in their dosage. Frequently used nerve ablation and modulation methods include conventional radiofrequency ablation (RFA) using heat and chemical ablation using alcohol. The celiac plexus lies anterior to aorta at the level of the first lumber vertebra. A block of the celiac plexus is applied most commonly to patients with pancreatic, gastric, or biliary cancer, as such patients typically have severe intractable upper abdominal pain . Splanchnic nerves are paired nerves arising from the thoracic sympathetic trunk (ganglia 5 to 12) which pierce the crura of the diaphragm at the T11 and T12 levels to join the celiac ganglion. Interruption of these nerve fibers can provide relief from pain associated with intra-abdominal malignancies .Neurolysis reduces pain by disrupting pain signals along the neural pathway The celiac plexus and splanchnic nerves are targets for neurolytic blocks for pain relief from pain caused by upper gastrointestinal tumors. And in this trial we are aiming to compare between the efficacies of both techniques in the management of chronic upper abdominal cancer pain. :
Study Type
INTERVENTIONAL
Allocation
RANDOMIZED
Purpose
TREATMENT
Masking
DOUBLE
Enrollment
50
block of neurolytic retrocrural celiac plexus block
Assiut University
Asyut, Asyut Governorate, Egypt
South Egypt Cancer Institute
Asyut, Asyut Governorate, Egypt
the Numeric Pain Rating Scale (NRS) pain scale
Change in the Numeric Pain Rating Scale (NRS) pain scale at the first 2 weeks compared to the pre-procedural pain
Time frame: 6 months
1- Total opioid consumption
daily consumption of opioid
Time frame: 6 months
Functional Assessment of Chronic Illness Therapy or Cancer Therapy (FACT)
measure patient quality of life
Time frame: 6 months
Patient Health Questionnaire (PHQ-9)
measure depression and anxiety
Time frame: 6 months
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