Celiac plexus block for interventional radiology.

The effectiveness of regional anesthesia for pain control during biliary manipulations was evaluated. Celiac plexus and/or thoracic epidural blockade was used for 48 procedures in 31 patients. All blockades were administered and patients monitored by anesthesiologists in the radiology department. Thoracic epidural blockade did not alleviate the deep visceral pain associated with biliary manipulations. Celiac plexus blockade in conjunction with local skin anesthesia markedly reduced pain, minimizing the need for intravenously administered narcotics. Two patients experienced transient hypotension during induction of regional anesthesia. There were no other complications. Twelve patients who had previous biliary manipulations with only intravenously administered analgesia reported excellent pain relief with regional anesthesia and expressed a preference for regional anesthesia should another procedure be necessary. The authors conclude that celiac plexus block is a desirable technique of providing analgesia, especially when major biliary interventions are undertaken.