Celiac Plexus Block After Stereotactic Body Radiotherapy Improves Pain Relief in Locally Advanced Pancreatic Cancer

Kai Ji,1 Yue-Juan Shao,1 Jian-Lei Hao,1 Xian-Jiang Cheng,1 Bing-Qing Guan,1 Wei-Shuai Liu,1 Lei Chen,1 Xin Wang,2 Yong-Chun Song,2 Kun Wang,1 Ping Wang2 1Department of Pain Relief, Tianjin Medical University Cancer Institute and Hospital, National Clinical Research Center for Cancer, Key Laboratory of Cancer Prevention and Therapy, Tianjin, and Tianjin’s Clinical Research Center for Cancer, Tianjin, People’s Republic of China; 2Department of Radiotherapy, Tianjin Medical University Cancer Institute and Hospital, National Clinical Research Center for Cancer, Key Laboratory of Cancer Prevention and Therapy, Tianjin, and Tianjin’s Clinical Research Center for Cancer, Tianjin, People’s Republic of ChinaCorrespondence: Ping Wang Email wangping@tjmuch.comPurpose: This study evaluated the analgesic effect of stereotactic body radiotherapy (SBRT) in combination with celiac plexus block (CPB), relative to SBRT alone, in locally advanced pancreatic cancer (LAPC) patients.Patients and Methods: We reviewed medical records of all patients with LAPC, who received SBRT between 1 January 2017 to 31 August 2019 at our center. The average numeric rating scale (NRS) of ≥ 3 was used in all patients at admission. We recorded average and worst NRS in a 24-hour period, and daily narcotic doses before SBRT, followed by weekly for 1 month and monthly for 3 months.Results: A total of 23 patients in the SBRT group and 12 under SBRT+CPB who met the inclusion criteria were enrolled. All patients in the SBRT+CPB group received CPB within 10 days after SBRT. Pain intensity and narcotic consumption were comparable in both groups at initial assessment. However, a significant decrease (P < 0.05) in average NRS was recorded in the SBRT+CPB group relative to SBRT at 2, 3 and 4 weeks after SBRT. A comparison of daily narcotic consumption with baseline values showed a significant decrease in the SBRT+CPB group at 3 and 4 weeks after SBRT (P