Bilateral Diaphragmatic Paralysis: A Rare Complication Related to Endoscopic Ultrasound-Guided Celiac Plexus Neurolysis

Retroperitoneal Necrosis as a Rare Complication After Celiac Plexus Block

Long after surgical treatment, chronic pain continues to afflict many patients with pancreatic cancer. Multimodal pain management is the current approach to managing these complex patients. In patients with refractory pain, a celiac plexus block is a commonly used adjunct to optimize pain control. The sclerosing agents used in a celiac plexus block are known to cause local tissue necrosis as a rare complication. We present a case of extensive retroperitoneal necrosis following celiac plexus neurolysis. To our knowledge, this is the first report of extensive retroperitoneal necrosis after a celiac plexus block requiring operative management.

Efficacy of EUS-guided celiac plexus neurolysis compared with medication alone for unresectable pancreatic cancer in the oxycodone/fentanyl era: a prospective randomized control study

BACKGROUND AND AIMS

The efficacy of celiac plexus neurolysis (CPN) with EUS guidance (EUS-CPN) has not been confirmed in the era of developed opioids. The aim of this study was to evaluate the efficacy of EUS-CPN for patients with pancreatic cancer-associated pain to compare medication using oxycodone and/or fentanyl with and without EUS-CPN.

METHODS

In this randomized control study involving patients who underwent EUS-CPN and those who did not, pain, quality of life (QOL), and opioid consumption were compared. Standard medicinal treatment using oxycodone and/or fentanyl was performed for both groups. The primary endpoint was defined as the pain evaluated by using a visual analog scale (VAS) rated from a 0 to 10, 4 weeks after the baseline.

RESULTS

For 48 registered patients, the outcomes of 24 patients in the EUS-CPN group and 22 patients in the control group were analyzed. EUS-CPN was successfully performed and did not induce severe procedure-related adverse events for all patients in the EUS-CPN group. Although the average pain VAS scores for both groups significantly decreased in comparison with baseline, scores were not statistically different between the groups at week 4 (1.3 ± 1.3 for the EUS-CPN group vs 2.3 ± 2.3 for the control group, P = .10). There was no statistical difference or tendency in favor of EUS-CPN at evaluation points of weeks 1, 2, 8, and 12. Moreover, the average VAS scores for QOL and the average opioid consumption between the groups were not different at all evaluation points.

CONCLUSIONS

EUS-CPN for patients with pancreatic cancer-associated pain did not appear to improve pain, QOL, or opioid consumption compared with those who did not undergo EUS-CPN and medicated with oxycodone/fentanyl. Although EUS-CPN can be an option, it was not found to have a large enough impact to be routinely performed for all patients with pain. (Clinical trial registration number: UMIN 000037172.).

Alleviating Pancreatic Cancer-Associated Pain Using Endoscopic Ultrasound-Guided Neurolysis

The most common symptom in patients with advanced pancreatic cancer is abdominal pain. This has traditionally been treated with nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs and opioid analgesics. However, these treatments result in inadequate pain control or drug-related adverse effects in some patients. An alternative pain-relief modality is celiac plexus neurolysis, in which the celiac plexus is chemically ablated. This procedure was performed percutaneously or intraoperatively until 1996, when endoscopic ultrasound (EUS)-guided celiac plexus neurolysis was first described. In this transgastric anterior approach, a neurolytic agent is injected around the celiac trunk under EUS guidance. The procedure gained popularity as a minimally invasive approach and is currently widely used to treat pancreatic cancer-associated pain. We focus on two relatively new techniques of EUS-guided neurolysis: EUS-guided celiac ganglia neurolysis and EUS-guided broad plexus neurolysis, which have been developed to improve efficacy. Although the techniques are safe and effective in general, some serious adverse events including ischemic and infectious complications have been reported as the procedure has gained widespread popularity. We summarize reported clinical outcomes of EUS-guided neurolysis in pancreatic cancer (from the PubMed and Embase databases) with a goal of providing information useful in developing strategies for pancreatic cancer-associated pain alleviation.

Endoscopic Palliation of Pancreatic Cancer

OPINION STATEMENT

Pancreas cancer is a fourth-leading cause of cancer death in the USA and its incidence is rising as the population is aging. The majority of patients present at an advanced stage due to the silent nature of the disease and treatment have focused more on palliation than curative intent. Gastroenterologists have become integral in the multidisciplinary care of these patients with a focus on providing endoscopic palliation of pancreas cancer. The three most common areas that gastroenterologists palliate endoscopically are biliary obstruction, cancer-related pain, and gastric outlet obstruction. To palliate biliary obstruction, the procedure of choice is to perform endoscopic retrograde cholangiopancreatography (ERCP) with biliary stent placement. We tend to place covered self-expandable metal stents (SEMS) due to their longer patency and removability unless the patient has resectable disease. Pancreas cancer pain is a result of tumor infiltration of the celiac plexus and can be severe and poorly responsive to narcotics. To improve pain control, neurolysis of the celiac plexus has been performed for decades. Since 1996, neurolysis of the celiac area has been performed endoscopically by Endoscopic Ultrasound-Guided Celiac Plexus Neurolysis. This has proven to be as safe and effective as traditional non-endoscopic methods and has allowed the patients to decrease their narcotic use and improve their pain control. This should be done early on in the course of the disease to have maximal effect. Gastric outlet obstruction (GOO) occurs in approximately 15-20% of patients with pancreas cancer. Endoscopic palliation of GOO can be performed by placing uncovered metal enteral stents across the obstruction. This procedure has proven to be very effective in patients who have a short life expectancy (less than two to 6 months) while surgical bypass should be considered for patients with longer life expectancies because it offers better long-term symptom relief. This chapter will review the current literature, latest advancements, and optimal techniques for endoscopic palliation of pancreatic cancer.

Practice guidelines for endoscopic ultrasound-guided celiac plexus neurolysis

Objectives:

The objective of guideline was to provide clear and relevant consensus statements to form a practical guideline for clinicians on the indications, optimal technique, safety and efficacy of endoscopic ultrasound guided celiac plexus neurolysis (EUS-CPN).

Methods:

Six important clinical questions were determined regarding EUS-CPN. Following a detailed literature review, 6 statements were proposed attempting to answer those questions. A group of expert endosonographers convened in Chicago, United States (May 2016), where the statements were presented and feedback provided. Subsequently a consensus group of 35 expert endosonographers voted based on their individual level of agreement. A strong recommendation required 80% voter agreement. The modified GRADE (Grading of Recommendations Assessment, Development, and Evaluation) criteria were used to rate the strength of recommendations and the quality of evidence.

Results:

Eighty percent agreement was reached on 5 of 6 consensus statements, 79.4% agreement was reached on the remaining one.

Conclusions:

EUS-CPN is efficacious, should be integrated into the management of pancreas cancer pain, and can be considered early at the time of diagnosis of inoperable disease. Techniques may still vary based on operator experience. Serious complications exist, but are rare.