CELIAC PLEXUS BLOCK - A ROENTGENOGRAPHIC, ANATOMIC STUDY OF TECHNIQUE AND SPREAD OF SOLUTION IN PATIENTS AND CORPSES

Abstract

Techniques for blocking the celiac plexus were evaluated by conventional posteroanterior and lateral X-rays and computed tomography (CT) in 20 patients with intractable pain due to carcinoma of the pancreas and by determining spread of injected dye at the time of autopsy in 3 corpses. The site for insertion of the needles should not be more than 7.5 cm lateral to the spinous process of a lumbar vertebra. Needles should be placed bilaterally. The depth to which needles are inserted is greater than previously recommended and at least 25 ml of solution [alcohol, iothalamate and chloroprocaine or bupivacaine] should be injected through each needle.