Application of spinal cord stimulation for the treatment of abdominal visceral pain syndromes: case reports.

Publication/Presentation Date

1-1-2005

Abstract

Spinal cord stimulation (SCS) has traditionally been applied to the treatment of neuropathic pain with good to excellent outcomes. Visceral pain syndromes can be just as debilitating and disabling as somatic and neuropathic pain, however, there seems to be a general lack of consensus on appropriate treatment strategies for these disorders. We present here several case studies to demonstrate the viscerotomal distribution of abdominal visceral pain pathways and the application of traditional SCS techniques for its management. Nine patients, experiencing abdominal visceral pain due to various conditions including chronic nonalcoholic pancreatitis, post-traumatic splenectomy, and generalized abdominal pain secondary to laparotomies, were treated with SCS. Efficacy of treatment was evaluated using the Visual Analog Scale (VAS) for pain intensity and a reduction, if any, in opioid intake. There was an overall mean reduction of 4.9 points in the VAS score for pain intensity and a substantial (> 50%) decrease in narcotic use. All patients were followed for more than one year with excellent outcomes and minimal complications. We conclude, based on these case reports, that SCS might be an effective, nondestructive, and reversible treatment modality for abdominal visceral pain disorders.

Volume

8

Issue

1

First Page

14

Last Page

27

ISSN

1094-7159

Disciplines

Medicine and Health Sciences

PubMedID

22151379

Department(s)

Department of Medicine

Document Type

Article

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