Abstract

Pancreatic cancer is a highly aggressive malignancy often diagnosed at an advanced stage, leading to significant pain that severely affects patient’s quality of life. The pain is primarily due to tumour invasion of the splanchnic nerves, which transmit nociceptive signals from the pancreas and surrounding structures. Traditional analgesic treatments, such as opioids, often become inadequate over time, prompting the need for alternative palliative interventions. Splanchnic plexus neurolysis (SPN) is a minimally invasive procedure that involves the chemical or thermal disruption of the splanchnic nerves, offering effective pain relief for patients with advanced pancreatic cancer. This procedure can be performed percutaneously or through endoscopic ultrasound (EUS) guidance. SPN has shown to significantly reduce pain, decrease opioid use, and improve overall functional status and quality of life in many patients. This case report explores the use of SPN in a patient with advanced pancreatic cancer and discusses its role in palliative care.

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Funding