Steroid and alcohol coeliac plexus block in chronic pancreatitis

Objective: To evaluate the indications, immediate benefit, patient outcome and side effects of either alcohol or steroid coeliac plexus block in a subset of patients with persistent severe pain due to chronic pancreatitis. Design: We retrospectively analysed 14 patients with painful chronic pancreatitis who underwent coeliac plexus block from March 1992 to September 1993. Patients: Patients were ill for a mean of 7 years, and were treated for a mean of 3.3 years. Prior surgery was performed in six patients, while 13 underwent prior endoscopic management, all continued to have debilitating pain, and were unresponsive to oral medication and to appropriate ductal drainage procedures. Methods: A total of 27 coeliac plexus blocks were performed using the posterior approach