Canadian Journal of Anesthesia, Vol 10, 357-363, Copyright © 1963 by Canadian Anesthesiologists' Society

Intrathecal Phenol Block in Treatment of Intractable Pain of Malignant Disease

¹ Department of Anaesthesia, University of Toronto, Toronto, Ontario

We have reviewed the use of intrathecal phenol block for the relief of intractable pain in 37 patients suffering from malignant neoplastic disease. Nineteen (51.3%) of these patients received complete relief of pain, until death or for a period exceeding one month. An additional eleven patients (29.7%) had moderate to good relief with reduction of sedative, or complete relief which lasted less than one month. Two patients (5.4%) were improved although relief of pain was incomplete. Five patients (13.6%) had no relief. The only serious complication was incontinence, which occurred in four patients who had blocks of sacral nerve roots and required indwelling catheters (10.8%).

We have found intrathecal phenol block using the technique which we have described to be a useful and simple method for the control of intractable pain in malignant disease, with an incidence of complications which is acceptable under the circumstances in which it is applied.

Note:

Presented at the Annual Meeting, Canadian Anaesthetists' Society, May 13–17, 1963.