Neurolytic Block Techniques In Abdominal Visceral Cancer Pain

Launched by INSTITUTO DO CANCER DO ESTADO DE SÃO PAULO · May 16, 2025

Keywords

ClinConnect Summary

This clinical trial is studying two different techniques to help manage severe abdominal pain in patients with cancer. The researchers want to see which technique—celiac plexus neurolysis or splanchnic nerve neurolysis—works better for relieving visceral pain that comes from specific types of abdominal cancers, like those affecting the stomach, liver, or pancreas. They are also looking at how these treatments impact the overall quality of life for patients.

To participate in this study, you need to be at least 18 years old and have persistent abdominal pain related to your cancer that hasn’t improved with strong pain medications. You should also be experiencing side effects from these medications that are hard to manage. However, certain health conditions, like liver or kidney failure, or taking blood-thinning medications, would make you ineligible for the trial. If you join, you can expect to receive one of the two treatment techniques and be monitored to see how well it helps with your pain and overall well-being. This study is not yet recruiting participants, so there will be more information available soon for those interested.

Gender

ALL

Eligibility criteria

• Inclusion Criteria:
• • Patients aged 18 years or older Presence of localized visceral pain in the upper abdomen originating from cancer of the stomach, duodenum, distal esophagus, ascending or transverse colon, liver, biliary tract, or pancreas
• Ineffectiveness of analgesic treatment with third-step opioids according to the WHO analgesic ladder, including:
• • Opioids (≥ 60 mg/day of morphine equivalents) Antidepressants (tricyclic or dual-action), at any dosage Gabapentinoids, at any dosage Presence of side effects from analgesics that are difficult to manage with medication
• Exclusion Criteria:
• • Presence of ascites Presence of deep vein thrombosis Presence of hepatic failure: Child-Pugh class B or C Presence of renal failure: estimated glomerular filtration rate (eGFR) \< 60 ml/min/1.73 m² Use of any anticoagulant medication
• Clinical coagulation disorder, defined as:
• • INR \> 1.5 Prothrombin activity \< 70% or prothrombin time \> 13.5 seconds aPTT \> 40 seconds Cardiovascular failure: NYHA class III