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Hypogastric Plexus Blocks

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Essentials of Interventional Techniques in Managing Chronic Pain

Abstract

Hypogastric plexus block is the primary sympathetic block for pelvic pain secondary to benign and malignant conditions. Innervation of the pelvis is complex, and pain emanating from pelvic organs has a visceral, somatic, and neuropathic component to it. The plexus, though traditionally called the superior hypogastric plexus, also includes the inferior hypogastric plexus which has been a target of interest in peripheral malignancies of the pelvis. Along with medical management, hypogastric plexus blocks and neurolysis has been an important part of a pain practitioner’s armamentarium. Although evidence to support the use of hypogastric plexus is lacking in the form of robust randomized clinical trials, this block is frequently used in terminal cancer pain to provide an improved quality of life in terminal cancer patients. The approaches to this block vary according to the expertise of the practitioner with all techniques being comparable in their relief.

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Author information

Authors and Affiliations

  1. University of Texas Medical Branch, Galveston, TX, USA

    Benjamin Fronk

  2. Department of Anesthesiology, University of Texas Medical Branch, Galveston, TX, USA

    Gulshan R. Doulatram

Authors
  1. Benjamin Fronk
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  2. Gulshan R. Doulatram
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Corresponding author

Correspondence to Gulshan R. Doulatram .

Editor information

Editors and Affiliations

  1. Pain Management Center of Paducah, Paducah, Kentucky

    Laxmaiah Manchikanti

  2. Department of Anesthesia, LSU Health Science Center, New Orleans, Louisiana, USA

    Alan D. Kaye

  3. Mid Atlantic Spine and Pain Physicians, Newark, Delaware

    Frank J.E. Falco

  4. Service Line Chief of Interventional Radiology, Director of Interventional Neuroradiology, Chief of NeuroInterventional Spine Service, Massachusetts General Hospital, Boston, Massachusetts, USA

    Joshua A. Hirsch

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Fronk, B., Doulatram, G.R. (2018). Hypogastric Plexus Blocks. In: Manchikanti, L., Kaye, A., Falco, F., Hirsch, J. (eds) Essentials of Interventional Techniques in Managing Chronic Pain. Springer, Cham. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-319-60361-2_36

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-319-60361-2_36

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  • Publisher Name: Springer, Cham

  • Print ISBN: 978-3-319-60359-9

  • Online ISBN: 978-3-319-60361-2

  • eBook Packages: MedicineMedicine (R0)

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