Splanchnic block at T11 provides a longer relief than celiac plexus block from nonmalignant, chronic abdominal pain.

AIM: Neural blockade at the celiac plexus is less specific compared with splanchnic nerve block. This retrospective study compares duration and potency of celiac versus splanchnic block. Patients & methods: Analyzed were data of 16 consecutive patients with visceral abdominal nonmalignant pain treated using both celiac plexus and T11 splanchnic block.

RESULTS

Improvement in pain scores was from 7.24 ± 1.0 to 4.1 ± 2.1 for celiac, and 7.8 ± 0.8 to 2.9 ± 2.1 for splanchnic at 4 weeks. Duration of the splanchnic nerve block was superior, median of 56 days versus only 21 days for celiac plexus block.

Conclusion

T11 bilateral splanchnic block provided significantly longer relief from chronic nonmalignant abdominal pain, than celiac plexus block (p = 0.001). Reduction in pain severity was more with splanchnic compared with celiac block (p = 0.029).