J Korean Pain Soc.  1992 May;5(1):108-112.

Superior Hypogastric Plexus Block for Malignant Pelvic Pain

• Kang SH

Abstract

Pain from pelvic cancer is very difficult to manage because its vague ness and bilateral nature. Furthermore, nerve blocks in this area are dangerous because sensory afferent nerves from pelvic viscera are adjacent to nerves that regulate bowel and bladder control, and motor nerve of lower extremities; Bilateral lumbar sympathectomy has been used for malignant pelvic pain with little risk of neurologic complication. However it is not a specific block for pelvic visceral pain, because the lumbar sympathetic chain does not innervate pelvic viscera in a direct manner. Therefore the potentials of lumbar sympathectomy for pelvic visceral pain are attributed to caudad diffusion of neurolytic agents to the smperior hypogastric plexus. I have experienced 3 cases of superior hypogastric plexus neurolysis per se without any significant complications.

Keyword

Pelvic pain; Lumbar sympathetic block; Superior hypogastric plexus block

MeSH Terms

Diffusion
Hypogastric Plexus*
Lower Extremity
Nerve Block
Pelvic Neoplasms
Pelvic Pain*
Sympathectomy
Urinary Bladder
Viscera
Visceral Pain