Treatment of pancreatic pain with interpleural bupivacaine: an open trial.
This study comprised 12 patients admitted for interpleural catheter treatment of chronic pancreatic pain. After the insertion of a left-sided interpleural catheter, 20 ml of bupivacaine 0.5% plain was given, followed by top-ups of 10-20 ml bupivacaine 0.5% as needed. Catheters were left in situ for 12-30 h. Immediate pain relief was achieved in all patients. Five patients had only a single blockade offering pain relief for a median of 33 days. One patient suffering from pancreatic carcinoma remained pain-free until death 45 days later. Seven patients returned for a second blockade after a median of 10 days. After this second blockade long-lasting pain relief was achieved in three patients for 70, 105 and 145 days. Two patients experienced pain relief lasting 11-14 days, while in two patients only a short-lived effect was observed, 3-8 days. Unimportant pneumothorax occurred in one patient. No cardiovascular or respiratory side-effects were recorded. We consider interpleural blockade an alternative worth further investigations in the future in the treatment of patients suffering from chronic pancreatic pain.
Ahlburg
P
P
Department of Anaesthesia, Aarhus Municipal Hospital, Denmark.
Noreng
M
M
Mølgaard
J
J
Egebo
K
K
D000328:Adult; D002045:Bupivacaine / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D002408:Catheters, Indwelling; D002908:Chronic Disease; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D010146:Pain / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000209:etiology; D010195:Pancreatitis / Q000150:complications*; D010994:Pleura
D002045:Bupivacaine