Neurolytic Block Techniques In Abdominal Visceral Cancer Pain

NCT ID: NCT06978673

Last Updated: 2025-06-03

Study Results

Results pending

The study team has not published outcome measurements, participant flow, or safety data for this trial yet. Check back later for updates.

Basic Information

Get a concise snapshot of the trial, including recruitment status, study phase, enrollment targets, and key timeline milestones.

Recruitment Status

NOT_YET_RECRUITING

Clinical Phase

NA

Total Enrollment

64 participants

Study Classification

INTERVENTIONAL

Study Start Date

2025-05-30

Study Completion Date

2026-12-31

Brief Summary

Review the sponsor-provided synopsis that highlights what the study is about and why it is being conducted.

The neurolytic blocks of sympathetic chains are commonly used for the treatment of cancer-related pain. This study aims to compare celiac plexus neurolysis and splanchnic nerve neurolysis for the treatment of abdominal visceral pain and its influence on the quality of life of patients with cancer.

Detailed Description

Dive into the extended narrative that explains the scientific background, objectives, and procedures in greater depth.

Double-blind randomized clinical trial.

The objective of the study is to compare the analgesic efficacy of splanchnic nerve neurolysis with alcohol to celiac plexus block with alcohol, with pain relief as the primary outcome. It also aims to quantify the adverse effects of the techniques as secondary outcomes. The sample size calculation will be based on comparing the mean pain scores on the Numerical Rating Scale of patients in the Control Group and the Intervention Group, evaluated after completing the second month of treatment. A two-tailed t-test will be sufficient and will require an adequate sample size. Therefore, for the chosen sample design with a significance level of α=5%, a power of 1-β=80%, assuming M1=5.0 and M2=3.5 and a standard deviation of 2.0, the sample size required is n=58. the sample size required is n=58. Considering a 10% dropout rate, the final sample size will be increased to 64 participants. Convenience sampling (a non-probabilistic sampling method) will be used. Participants will be randomly allocated to the groups using a list generated by a program obtained at https://www.randomizer.org. The proportion between the participants in the groups will be 1:1, with 32 patients allocated to the Intervention arm and 32 to the Control arm. The allocation of the total 64 participants will be determined by randomly assigned sequential letters (A or B) generated by the computer (website https://www.randomizer.org), randomly assigning numbers from 0 to 64 to each group: Control Group (Celiac Block) and Intervention Group (Splanchnic Nerve Block). The Control Group will receive celiac plexus neurolysis with absolute alcohol, and the Intervention Group will receive splanchnic nerve neurolysis with alcohol. The statistical analysis will be performed in program R version 3.5.1. The results obtained will be presented as mean + standard deviation for continuous data or absolute frequency for described data. For quantitative variables, the Student's t-test will be used for normally distributed data, or the Mann-Whitney test for non-normally distributed data. For qualitative variables, the chi-square test will be used or Fisher's exact test. Significant difference is defined as p \< 0.05. Data will be collected and managed using REDCap data capture tools.

Conditions

See the medical conditions and disease areas that this research is targeting or investigating.

Cancer, Malignant Tumors Abdominal Cancer Cancer Pain Visceral Pain Cancer-related Pain Pain Management Celiac Ganglia Sympathetic Ganglia

Study Design

Understand how the trial is structured, including allocation methods, masking strategies, primary purpose, and other design elements.

Allocation Method

RANDOMIZED

Intervention Model

PARALLEL

Primary Study Purpose

TREATMENT

Blinding Strategy

TRIPLE

Participants Caregivers Investigators

Study Groups

Review each arm or cohort in the study, along with the interventions and objectives associated with them.

CELIAC PLEXUS NEUROLYSIS

The patient, under sedation and breathing spontaneously with oxygen support, will be placed in the horizontal prone position. Fluoroscopy will be used to locate the first lumbar vertebra, which will serve as a reference for the puncture site. Two 22G × 15 cm needles will be introduced bilaterally, up to 6 cm from the midline at the level of L1, and directed superiorly toward the transverse process of L1 under coaxial vision. Once they reach the vertebral body bilaterally, the needles will be positioned anterior to the vertebral body of L1, in the retroperitoneal region. The needle stylet will be removed, and the absence of blood, cerebrospinal fluid, or urine returning through the needle will be verified. If none of these signs are present, 2 ml of non-ionic contrast will be administered through the needle to confirm proper positioning in the retroperitoneum. After confirmation, 5 ml of absolute alcohol will be injected bilaterally.

Group Type ACTIVE_COMPARATOR

Celiac Plexus Neurolysis - 5 ml of absolute alcohol (100%)

Intervention Type PROCEDURE

Celiac plexus neurolysis will be performed with 5 ml of absolute alcohol on each side at the level of the first lumbar vertebra.

SPLANCHNIC NERVE NEUROLYSIS

The patient, under spontaneous breathing with oxygen support, will be placed in the horizontal prone position and supported by cushions placed under the iliac crests and chest. With a mark maintained over T11, the fluoroscopy machine will be positioned obliquely (approximately 45º), and the movement of the diaphragm-as well as its relationship with the vertebral body-will be observed during inspiration and expiration. The entry point will be at the junction of the rib and the vertebral body. The needle will be introduced using coaxial visualization to reach the lateral aspect of the vertebral body, near the costovertebral angle. With the fluoroscopy in profile, the needle will be advanced to the anterior third of the vertebral body, and any return of blood or cerebrospinal fluid will be checked. Non-ionic contrast will then be injected to confirm the needle position in both anteroposterior and lateral views. Finally, 5 ml of absolute alcohol will be injected through each needle.

Group Type EXPERIMENTAL

Splanchnic nerve neurolysis - 5 ml of absolute alcohol (100%)

Intervention Type PROCEDURE

Splanchnic neurolysis will be performed with 5 ml of absolute alcohol on each side at the level of the eleventh thoracic vertebra.

Interventions

Learn about the drugs, procedures, or behavioral strategies being tested and how they are applied within this trial.

Splanchnic nerve neurolysis - 5 ml of absolute alcohol (100%)

Splanchnic neurolysis will be performed with 5 ml of absolute alcohol on each side at the level of the eleventh thoracic vertebra.

Intervention Type PROCEDURE

Celiac Plexus Neurolysis - 5 ml of absolute alcohol (100%)

Celiac plexus neurolysis will be performed with 5 ml of absolute alcohol on each side at the level of the first lumbar vertebra.

Intervention Type PROCEDURE

Other Intervention Names

Discover alternative or legacy names that may be used to describe the listed interventions across different sources.

SPLANCHNIC NERVE BLOCK SPLANCHNIC NERVE BLOCKADE SPLANCHNIC BLOCK Celiac plexus block

Eligibility Criteria

Check the participation requirements, including inclusion and exclusion rules, age limits, and whether healthy volunteers are accepted.

Inclusion Criteria

Patients aged 18 years or older Presence of localized visceral pain in the upper abdomen originating from cancer of the stomach, duodenum, distal esophagus, ascending or transverse colon, liver, biliary tract, or pancreas

Ineffectiveness of analgesic treatment with third-step opioids according to the WHO analgesic ladder, including:

Opioids (≥ 60 mg/day of morphine equivalents) Antidepressants (tricyclic or dual-action), at any dosage Gabapentinoids, at any dosage Presence of side effects from analgesics that are difficult to manage with medication

Exclusion Criteria

Presence of ascites Presence of deep vein thrombosis Presence of hepatic failure: Child-Pugh class B or C Presence of renal failure: estimated glomerular filtration rate (eGFR) \< 60 ml/min/1.73 m² Use of any anticoagulant medication

Clinical coagulation disorder, defined as:

INR \> 1.5 Prothrombin activity \< 70% or prothrombin time \> 13.5 seconds aPTT \> 40 seconds Cardiovascular failure: NYHA class III
Minimum Eligible Age

18 Years

Eligible Sex

ALL

Accepts Healthy Volunteers

No

Sponsors

Meet the organizations funding or collaborating on the study and learn about their roles.

Instituto do Cancer do Estado de São Paulo

OTHER

Sponsor Role lead

Responsible Party

Identify the individual or organization who holds primary responsibility for the study information submitted to regulators.

amsousa

Coordinator of the Pain Group at the Instituto do Cancer do Estado de São Paulo.

Responsibility Role PRINCIPAL_INVESTIGATOR

Principal Investigators

Learn about the lead researchers overseeing the trial and their institutional affiliations.

Angela M Sousa, MD. PhD.

Role: STUDY_DIRECTOR

Instituto do Cancer do Estado de São Paulo

Locations

Explore where the study is taking place and check the recruitment status at each participating site.

Instituto de Cancer Do Estado

São Paulo, São Paulo, Brazil

Site Status

Countries

Review the countries where the study has at least one active or historical site.

Brazil

Central Contacts

Reach out to these primary contacts for questions about participation or study logistics.

Angela M Sousa, MD. PhD.

Role: CONTACT

+55 1198558-8339

Karenthan A Rodrigues, MD.

Role: CONTACT

+55 1199811-0737

Facility Contacts

Find local site contact details for specific facilities participating in the trial.

Karenthan A Rodrigues, MD.

Role: primary

+55 11 998110737

Angela M Sousa, MD. PhD.

Role: backup

+55 11 38933268

References

Explore related publications, articles, or registry entries linked to this study.

Koyyalagunta D, Engle MP, Yu J, Feng L, Novy DM. The Effectiveness of Alcohol Versus Phenol Based Splanchnic Nerve Neurolysis for the Treatment of Intra-Abdominal Cancer Pain. Pain Physician. 2016 May;19(4):281-92.

Reference Type BACKGROUND
PMID: 27228515 (View on PubMed)

Ahmed A, Arora D. Fluoroscopy-guided Neurolytic Splanchnic Nerve Block for Intractable Pain from Upper Abdominal Malignancies in Patients with Distorted Celiac Axis Anatomy: An Effective Alternative to Celiac Plexus Neurolysis - A Retrospective Study. Indian J Palliat Care. 2017 Jul-Sep;23(3):274-281. doi: 10.4103/IJPC.IJPC_28_17.

Reference Type BACKGROUND
PMID: 28827930 (View on PubMed)

Uehara Y, Matsumoto Y, Kosugi T, Sone M, Nakamura N, Mizushima A, Miyashita M, Morita T, Yamaguchi T, Satomi E. Availability of and factors related to interventional procedures for refractory pain in patients with cancer: a nationwide survey. BMC Palliat Care. 2022 Sep 26;21(1):166. doi: 10.1186/s12904-022-01056-6.

Reference Type BACKGROUND
PMID: 36154936 (View on PubMed)

Hochberg U, Ingelmo P, Sole E, Miro J, Rivera G, Perez J. Early Interventional Treatments for Patients with Cancer Pain: A Narrative Review. J Pain Res. 2023 May 18;16:1663-1671. doi: 10.2147/JPR.S405808. eCollection 2023.

Reference Type BACKGROUND
PMID: 37223437 (View on PubMed)

Noble M, Gress FG. Techniques and results of neurolysis for chronic pancreatitis and pancreatic cancer pain. Curr Gastroenterol Rep. 2006 Apr;8(2):99-103. doi: 10.1007/s11894-006-0004-x.

Reference Type BACKGROUND
PMID: 16533471 (View on PubMed)

Comlek S. Pain Control with Splanchnic Neurolysis in Pancreatic Cancer Patients Unresponsive to Celiac Plexus Neurolysis. J Pain Res. 2020 Aug 12;13:2023-2031. doi: 10.2147/JPR.S266689. eCollection 2020.

Reference Type BACKGROUND
PMID: 32848449 (View on PubMed)

Yamamuro M, Kusaka K, Kato M, Takahashi M. Celiac plexus block in cancer pain management. Tohoku J Exp Med. 2000 Sep;192(1):1-18. doi: 10.1620/tjem.192.1.

Reference Type BACKGROUND
PMID: 11128864 (View on PubMed)

Paul A, Borkar A. Fluoroscopy-Guided Splanchnic Nerve Block for Cancer-Associated Pain. Cureus. 2022 Oct 31;14(10):e30944. doi: 10.7759/cureus.30944. eCollection 2022 Oct.

Reference Type BACKGROUND
PMID: 36465781 (View on PubMed)

Lu F, Li X, Song L, Ye L, Wang X, Wang R. Efficacy and Safety of Celiac Plexus Neurolysis Versus Splanchnic Nerve Neurolysis in the Management of Abdominal Cancer Pain: A Meta-analysis of 359 Patients. Pain Physician. 2024 Jan;27(1):1-10.

Reference Type BACKGROUND
PMID: 38285023 (View on PubMed)

Other Identifiers

Review additional registry numbers or institutional identifiers associated with this trial.

NP 076-210

Identifier Type: -

Identifier Source: org_study_id

More Related Trials

Additional clinical trials that may be relevant based on similarity analysis.