Spinal cord stimulation: a possible therapeutic alternative for chronic mesenteric ischaemia

Pain. 2000 Jul;87(1):99-101. doi: 10.1016/S0304-3959(00)00266-9.

Abstract

A 78-year-old male patient had chronic, unrelieved abdominal pain due to mesenteric ischaemia. Unsuccessful pharmacological approaches included oral morphine plus coadjuvants as well as a sympathetic celiac plexus block which gave pain relief that lasted for 72 h. In order to obtain long-lasting relief, a trial epidural stimulating electrode was implanted after obtaining informed consent and Ethical Committee approval. Complete analgesia was achieved during a trial period of 2 weeks. Thereafter, a spinal cord stimulator was implanted. At the time of writing, 11 months after implantation, the degree of analgesia is complete. We believe that spinal cord stimulation may represent an alternative approach in controlling pain due to mesenteric ischaemia.

Publication types

  • Case Reports

MeSH terms

  • Abdominal Pain / drug therapy
  • Abdominal Pain / etiology
  • Abdominal Pain / therapy*
  • Aged
  • Analgesics, Opioid / administration & dosage
  • Anesthetics, Local / therapeutic use
  • Autonomic Nerve Block
  • Bupivacaine / therapeutic use
  • Celiac Plexus
  • Chronic Disease
  • Electric Stimulation Therapy* / methods
  • Electrodes, Implanted
  • Epidural Space
  • Humans
  • Ischemia / complications*
  • Male
  • Mesenteric Arteries*
  • Morphine / administration & dosage
  • Pain Measurement
  • Spinal Cord*
  • Time Factors

Substances

  • Analgesics, Opioid
  • Anesthetics, Local
  • Morphine
  • Bupivacaine