Zhong, W., Yu, Z., Zeng, J.X., Lin, Y., Yu, T., Min, X.H., . . . Chen, Q.K. (2014). Celiac plexus block for treatment of pain associated with pancreatic cancer: A meta-analysis. Pain Practice, 14, 43–51.

• FINAL NUMBER STUDIES INCLUDED = 7 (initially reported as eight studies, but one was excluded because the Likert scale was used instead of the VAS to assess pain)
• TOTAL PATIENTS INCLUDED IN REVIEW = 403 patients with pancreatic cancer, 196 patients undergoing CPB, and 207 undergoing medical management
• KEY SAMPLE CHARACTERISTICS: Mean age of CPB patients was 57–67 years; mean age of control patients was 60–68 years; proportion of males was similar between groups among the studies; the CPB methods and the pharmaceuticals were similar; the use of ethanol concentrations varied from 30%–100%

PHASE OF CARE: Multiple phases of care
 
APPLICATIONS: Elder care and palliative care

The VAS scores of the CPB groups were lower at two, four, and eight weeks after the procedure, but not all studies found that the CPB group used fewer pharmacologic agents than the control groups. Most studies showed that the CPB groups experienced less pain although the patients in these group also used nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDS) or morphine to control their pain.

This meta-analysis found that at four weeks, groups receiving a CPB had a lower pain score. However, these results were not sustained at eight weeks, and the trend continued to the day before death with increaseing usages of NSAIDS and morphine in both groups.

• Across the various studies, there was limited postintervention consistency in pain evaluation intervals.
• The concentrations of ethanol used in CPBs varied significantly between studies. 
• CPB techniques varied across the studies.

The findings of this meta-analysis show consistent results in regard to the efficacy of CPB in decreasing pain for patients with pancreatic cancer short-term and overall.