Apollo Specialty Hospitals, Vanagaram performed a CT guided Coeliac Plexus Neurolysis to treat a patient suffering from chronic pancreatitis

The patient, a 27-year-old gentleman, presented with a history of chronic pancreatitis. He was having severe intractable pain of the upper abdomen, which was not relieved by any medications. After admission to Apollo Speciality Hospitals, Vanagaram, under Medical Gastroenterologist Dr Muthukumaran, many types of medications were prescribed for pain relief and symptomatic improvement. When there was no significant benefit from all these medications, Dr Sanjeeb Kumar Agrawal, Senior consultant Radiologist decided to go ahead with Coeliac plexus neurolysis. After discussing the pros and cons of EUS guided (Endoscopic Ultrasound) Vs CT guided procedure, it was decided to go ahead with CT-guided procedure. The advantages of the CT guided procedure were the available expertise and the huge cost difference. After the procedure, the patient had immediate and significant pain relief and walked out of the procedure room.

CT-guided coeliac plexus neurolysis is a standard practice in many institutes with comparable result with EUS guided procedure. Considering the huge cost difference and rare availability of EUS, CT guided procedure is very good. Coeliac plexus neurolysis is a very useful procedure for significant pain relief in many terminally ill patients. It is a long-lasting pain relief treatment in most of the patients.