Inferior epigastric plexus block for pelvic pain

  Chronic pelvic pain (CPP) is a common and complex condition that severely affects the quality of life of patients.CPP is defined as: non-cyclical pain lasting >6 months; pain located in the pelvis, umbilicus or anterior abdominal wall below the umbilicus, lumbosacral region or buttocks; pain of an intensity that can lead to functional impairment or requires analgesic treatment.  The etiology of CPP can be classified as visceral or somatic. Visceral pain originates from intra-pelvic organs, such as genitourinary or digestive organ lesions. Somatic pain arises from somatic structures such as pelvic bones, ligaments, muscles and fascia, and may involve the corresponding abdominal wall dermatomes.  Anatomy of the inferior epigastric plexus: The inferior epigastric nerve, also known as the presacral nerve, is composed of the lumbar visceral nerve that emanates from the L3-4 ganglion and joins the abdominal aortic plexus. It is located in the lower 1/3 of the lumbar 5 vertebral body and the anterior superior part of the sacral 1 vertebral body, between the end of the abdominal aorta and the two common iliac arteries, in a flattened band.  Surgical approach: We chose a CT-guided posterior approach through the L5/S1 disc, punctured with a 20 or 22G fine needle, injected a small amount of contrast agent after reaching the anterior margin of the L5-S1 vertebral body to observe contrast diffusion, and injected blocking drugs for nerve root block or anhydrous alcohol for destruction after judging that the position was correct.  Indications: Blockade: Used to diagnose chronic benign pain syndromes such as dysmenorrhea, more often applied to secondary dysmenorrhea (e.g., endometriosis, chronic pelvic infection and pelvic venous stasis), also applied to adult, persistent primary dysmenorrhea patients, chronic benign lesions in the pelvis, primary rectal pain and other pain caused by various diseases.  Destructive surgery: commonly used for long-term pain relief for pelvic cancer patients, including cancer pain caused by cervical cancer, proximal vaginal cancer, endometrial cancer, ovarian cancer, fallopian tube cancer, bladder cancer, prostate cancer, rectal cancer and sacral metastases.