Celiac plexus block - Retrocrural computed tomographic anatomy in patients with and without pancreatic cancer

Background and Objectives. Neurolytic celiac plexus block is often performed for analgesia from pancreatic cancer, but it is not known if the cancer alters the anatomy relevant to the successful performance of retrocrural celiac plexus block. Methods. Abdominal computed tomographic scans were used to simulate retrocrural celiac plexus block in patients with and without pancreatic cancer. Results. Simulated right-sided needle placement in the retrocrural space was more likely to fail in patients with pancreatic cancer than in patients without cancer. Such predicted failure often occurred when the cross-sectional area of the right retrocrural space was less than 1.0 cm(2). Conclusions. The predicted success of simulated retrocrural celiac plexus block differed between patients with and without pancreatic cancer. These findings have implications for the performance of celiac plexus block.