Suprascapular nerve block by catheter for breakthrough shoulder cancer pain.
OBJECTIVE
Incidental shoulder pain due to movement renders pain control difficult because it requires high basal dosages or additional doses of opioids. Shoulder pain can be alleviated by suprascapular nerve block, and the placement of a catheter can permit the injection of local anesthesia as needed.


METHODS
In a patient with lung cancer and continuous chest pain well controlled by opioids but with shoulder breakthrough pain necessitating extra doses of opioids, a suprascapular nerve block was performed via an indwelling catheter.


RESULTS
The breakthrough events due to scapular involvement were treated with local injections of 5 mL bupivacaine 0.5% until death (4 weeks later) without any complications.


CONCLUSIONS
Continuous suprascapular nerve block is safe and simple and has proven to be useful in avoiding extra doses of opioids.
Mercadante
S
S
Department of Anesthesia and Intensive Care, Buccheri La Ferla Hospital FBF, Palermo, Italy.
Sapio
M
M
Villari
P
P
D000368:Aged; D000701:Analgesics, Opioid / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000627:therapeutic use; D002404:Catheterization; D006801:Humans; D008175:Lung Neoplasms / Q000150:complications*; D008297:Male; D009020:Morphine / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000627:therapeutic use; D009407:Nerve Block; D010146:Pain / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000188:drug therapy*; D011859:Radiography; D012540:Scapula / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging
D000701:Analgesics, Opioid; D009020:Morphine