Application of Celiac Plexus Block in Postoperative Analgesia of Whipple Surgery

This study is a single center, randomized, single-blind controlled study. After calculating the sample size, 66 subjects would be randomly assigned to nerve block group (NB group: local anesthetic injection at the target position) and blank control group (GC group: no celiac plexus block) according to the ratio of 1:1, in order to evaluate the effectiveness and safety of celiac plexus block (CPB) as a part of multimodal analgesia for postoperative pain management.

Anesthesia protocol: the standard anesthesia protocol for open Whipple surgery in our hospital was adopted.

Postoperative analgesia plan: before abdominal closure at the end of operation, The surgeon was instructed to perform a single celiac plexus block (CPB) under direct vision. Ropivacaine was injected into the target nerve in NB group, but no injection in GC group. After the operation, the anesthesiologist used ropivacaine to perform ultrasound-guided abdominal wall nerve block. When leaving the operating room, connect intravenous analgesia pump. Patients with subjective pain score of 3 or above can press. If the analgesia is insufficient, intravenous injection of dezocine can be added temporarily. The intravenous analgesia pump shall be withdrawn after 72 hours of use. If the analgesia pump is used up and is still needed, the anesthesiologist can evaluate and add medicine.

Inclusion criteria

• age ≥ 18years;
• received open Whipple surgery.

Exclusion criteria

• patients unable to cooperate with evaluations;
• patients with history of drug abuse, local anesthetic allergy, anatomical variation of the celiac ganglia indicated by abdominal CT, abdominal aortic diseases;
• non-standard surgical procedures, planned postoperative ICU admission;
• American Society of Anesthesiologists (ASA) classification of 4 or 5.

Withdrawal criteria:

Patients who underwent unplanned surgeries, required reintubation or a second surgery, received ICU care within three days post-surgery, died within two weeks post-surgery, or experienced any unexpected events were withdrawn from the study.