Celiac Plexus Block Complications: A Case Report and Review of the Literature

Celiac plexus block (CPB) has been widely used as a treatment option for chronic intractable abdominal pain resulting from intra-abdominal malignancies as well as benign conditions. Complications resulting from CPB have been long reported and include diarrhea, back pain, paraplegia, postural hypotension, pneumothorax, and local anesthesia toxicity. Diarrhea and postural hypotension are two most common complications with studies reporting incidences occurring in 44% to 60% and 10% to 52% of patients, respectively. Diarrhea is most often transient, resolving within 48 hours; however, literature reports cases in which diarrhea was chronic, debilitating, and in some instances life threatening. Persistent diarrhea proves difficult to treat. We report a case of a 76-year-old male with unresectable pancreatic adenocarcinoma who underwent computed tomography-guided CBP complicated by persistent diarrhea and fecal incontinence. After conventional antidiarrheal failed to improve the symptoms, octreotide proved to be beneficial and the patient reported significant improvement in symptoms.