title: Radiofrequency thermocoagulation of the thoracic splanchnic nerve in functional abdominal pain syndrome -A case report-.
abstract: The thoracic splanchnic nerve block has been used in managing abdominal pain, especially for pains arising from abdominal cancers. A 27-year-old male patient who had a constant abdominal pain was referred to our clinic for pain management but had no organic disease. The numeric rating scale (NRS) for pain scored 7/10. We applied a diagnostic thoracic splanchnic nerve block under the diagnosis of functional abdominal pain syndrome. Since the block reduced the pain, we applied a radiofrequency thermocoagulation at the T11 and T12 vertebral level. Thereafter, his symptoms improved markedly with pain decreasing to an NRS score of 2-3/10. Hereby, we report a successful management of functional abdominal pain via radiofrequency thermocoagulation of the thoracic splanchnic nerves.
authors.affiliation: Department of Anesthesiology and Pain Meidicine, Samsung Seoul Hospital, Samsung Medical Center, Sungkyunkwan University School of Medicine, Seoul, Korea.
authors.forename: Ji-Won
authors.initials: JW
authors.lastname: Choi
authors.forename: Eun-Young
authors.initials: EY
authors.lastname: Joo
authors.forename: Sang-Hyun
authors.initials: SH
authors.lastname: Lee
authors.forename: Chul-Joong
authors.initials: CJ
authors.lastname: Lee
authors.forename: Tae-Hyeong
authors.initials: TH
authors.lastname: Kim
authors.forename: Woo-Seok
authors.initials: WS
authors.lastname: Sim