Celiac Plexus Injection
The celiac plexus is a bundle of nerves surrounding the main artery in your abdomen, so celiac lexus injections can help if you have persistent abdominal pain.
What is a celiac plexus block?
A celiac plexus block is a pain relief treatment delivered by injection. The treatment prevents celiac plexus nerves from sending pain messages to the brain. It’s a type of nerve block. Healthcare providers use celiac plexus blocks to treat people who have pancreatic cancer or chronic pancreatitis. These conditions can cause severe abdominal pain.
What is the celiac plexus?
The celiac plexus is part of the nervous system. This bundle of nerves in the upper abdomen sits behind the pancreas close to the aorta, the body’s largest blood vessel.
What does a celiac plexus block treat?
Healthcare providers use a celiac plexus block to ease severe abdominal pain caused by pancreatic cancer. Cancerous tumors can put pressure on the celiac plexus, causing pain.
People with chronic pancreatitis may also need a celiac plexus block to alleviate severe upper abdominal pain or back pain. Inflammation (swelling) of the pancreas causes pancreatitis.
How should I prepare for a celiac plexus block?
You should follow your healthcare provider’s recommendations about what to do before the procedure. You may need to:
Stop taking certain medicines like blood thinners.
Fast (not eat or drink) before the procedure. Anesthesia is safer on an empty stomach.
Cut back on alcohol and quit smoking. These substances increase the risk of complications.
What happens during a celiac plexus block?
A nerve block procedure can take up to one hour, although the actual injections are often over in a few minutes. Celiac plexus block is an outpatient procedure, so you go home the same day. Someone will need to drive you home and should stay with you during the day.
The procedure typically takes place while you lie prone on your stomach with a bolster (pillow) underneath your hips. If it hurts too much to be on your stomach, you may be on your back (supine position). You will receive intravenous medication (a sedative) to relax you.
Your healthcare provider will use imaging scans from fluoroscopy X-rays, a CT scan or endoscopic ultrasound to guide the procedure.
Your provider:
Sterilizes the treatment area with an antiseptic and numbs it with a local anesthetic.
Inserts a needle into the back and confirms correct needle placement by injecting a small amount of contrast dye, which shows up on the imaging scan. You may have some discomfort and feel a slight pinch.
Withdraws the needle and uses a different needle to inject a pain medicine (anesthetic) or steroid into the treatment area to numb the nerves.
Uses a different needle to inject alcohol into the celiac plexus (for a neurolytic procedure). The injection damages the nerves, preventing pain signals from traveling to the brain.
What happens after a celiac plexus block?
Most people get pain relief within 15 to 30 minutes after getting a nerve block. You’ll need to stay at the office for 1 to 2 hours to make sure you don’t have any complications.
Potential side effects may include:
Bruising, swelling or soreness
Infection at the treatment site