J Korean Pain Soc.  1998 Oct;11(2):317-320.

Interpleural Catheter in the Management of Chronic Refractoy Upper Abdominal Pain

• Lee KH
• Lee GB
• Park SS
• Hong JG

Abstract

Since Reiestad and Stromskag reported interpleural insallation of local anesthetic solutions as a technique for the management of postoperative pain in the patients undergoing cholecystectomy, renal surgery and breast surgery, many physician applied this technique for upper abdominal pain from various reasons such as technically simple, effective pain relief, less respiratory depression. So we tried interpleural analgesia in two patients who suffered from severe upper abdominal pain. One had upper abdominal pain due to chronic pancreatitis and the other had right upper abdominal pain after PTBD (percutaneous transhepatic bile drainage) for biliary cirrhosis and systemic jaundice. Both were injected 10 ml of 1% lidocaine and infused continuously with 1% lidocaine (2 ml/hr) using 2-Day Baxter infusor. After bolus injection of lidocaine, pain scores (VAS 0 ~ 100) were recorded below 25mm and had not exceed that level during continuous infusion. After removing the catheters, two patients were all satisfied with this therapy. Our experiences with this technique showed that continuous infusion of local anesthetics through an interpleural catheter is effective in the control of refractory upper abdominal pain without any complication.

Keyword

Technique, interpleural block; Pain, upper abdominal pain

MeSH Terms

Abdominal Pain*
Anesthetics, Local
Bile
Breast
Catheters*
Cholecystectomy
Humans
Infusion Pumps
Interpleural Analgesia
Jaundice
Lidocaine
Liver Cirrhosis, Biliary
Pain, Postoperative
Pancreatitis, Chronic
Respiratory Insufficiency
Anesthetics, Local
Lidocaine