Blockade of the superior hypogastric plexus block for visceral pelvic pain.

Visceral pelvic pain is a common problem with variable etiology. The sympathetic nervous system plays an important role in the transmission of visceral pain independent of its etiology. Five major pathways by which pelvic pain is transmitted can be identified. One of them, the superior hypogastric plexus, an extension of the preaortic plexus, is easily assessable to blockade by local anesthetics and neurolytic agents. Several techniques have been described. Long-lasting pain relief with this procedure has been achieved in patients with pelvic cancer pain. However, there is a discrepancy between diagnostic and therapeutic blockade in patients with nonmalignant pain. Because a diagnostic blockade can give significant pain relief in a large variety of patients, it is worthwhile to investigate new methods that provide lasting neural blockade of the superior hypogastric plexus and long-lasting relief of this devastating condition.