Pain treatment in cancer of the pancreas.
Pancreatic cancer remains an important cause of suffering among oncologic patients. Due to the current poor response to specific therapies, a palliative approach represents the main treatment for this kind of tumour. The authors present the results of a prospective study performed on 41 patients treated according to the World Health Organization guidelines for cancer pain relief; 21 of them were treated by neurolytic coeliac blockade as well. Results, even if not comparable between the two groups, show that this neurolytic technique can play an important role in palliative treatment, on condition that it is part of a multimodal continuing care system.
Pain Therapy and Palliative Care Division, National Cancer Institute, Milano, Italy.
G V
GV
Ventafridda
A T
AT
Caraceni
A M
AM
Sbanotto
L
L
Barletta
F
F
De Conno
D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000438:Alcohols; D000700:Analgesics / Q000627:therapeutic use; D001340:Autonomic Nerve Block / Q000379:methods; D002447:Celiac Plexus; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D016014:Linear Models; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D010146:Pain / Q000188:drug therapy; D059408:Pain Management; D010147:Pain Measurement; D010166:Palliative Care / Q000379:methods; D010190:Pancreatic Neoplasms / Q000503:physiopathology*; D011446:Prospective Studies
D000438:Alcohols; D000700:Analgesics