Clinical research of percutaneous bilateral splanchnic nerve lesion for pain relief in patients with pancreatic cancer under X-ray guidance

Objective: to observe the therapeutic effects of percutaneous bilateral splanchnic nerves block in patients with intractable pain due to pancreatic cancer. Methods: twenty-fourpatients (advanced pancreatic cancer) with intractable pain were enrolled in the research. Through approach of the edge of T11 vertebral body with double-needle technique, the researchers carried out the bilateral lesion of the greater and the lesser splanchnic nerve with absolute ethyl alcohol under X-ray guidance. Follow-up was six months. Numerical rating scale (NRS) and quality of life (QOL) were all assessed pre-and post-procedure (1 d, 1 w, 2 w, 1 m, 2 m, 3 m, 4 m, 5 m, 6 m). The daily morphine consumption was recorded. Results: NRS and daily morphine consumption decreased when compared to pre-procedure while QOL increased. These differences were found to be statistically significant (P < 0.05). 9 patients suffered from diarrhea temporally and recoveredin one week. Conclusion: Percutaneous bilateral splanchnic nerves lesion under X-ray guidancecan treat intractable pain caused by pancreatic cancer and improve patients'life quality with minor complication.