Service Details

Ultrasound-guided procedures

Ultrasound-guided procedures

Ultrasound-guided procedures can be valuable in managing cancer-related pain, particularly for oncological conditions that affect the soft tissues and organs. Here are several ultrasound-guided procedures commonly used in oncological pain management: Nerve Blocks: Celiac Plexus Block: This procedure involves the injection of local anesthetic or neurolytic agent around the celiac plexus, a cluster of nerves in the abdomen. It can provide relief for upper abdominal cancer pain, such as pancreatic cancer. Hypogastric Plexus Block: A similar procedure to the celiac plexus block, but targeting nerves in the pelvis. It's used for relieving pain related to pelvic cancers, such as prostate or gynecological cancers. Intercostal Nerve Block: This involves injecting medication around the intercostal nerves in the chest wall to relieve pain from tumors involving the ribs or chest wall. Pain Management Injections: Intrathecal Drug Delivery: A catheter is placed into the spinal fluid space in the lower back to deliver medications such as opioids or local anesthetics directly to the spinal cord. It's often used for severe cancer-related pain that hasn't responded to other treatments. Intramuscular Injections: Ultrasound can guide injections of pain-relieving medications directly into muscles affected by cancer-related pain. Fluid Drainage: Paracentesis: Ultrasound guidance helps in draining fluid buildup (ascites) in the abdominal cavity caused by certain cancers, such as ovarian or liver cancer. This can provide relief from abdominal distension and discomfort. Thoracentesis: Similar to paracentesis, but used to drain fluid buildup (pleural effusion) in the chest cavity caused by cancers like lung or breast cancer, which can relieve pressure on the lungs and ease breathing. Palliative Care Procedures: Pleurodesis: Ultrasound can guide the placement of a chest tube for pleurodesis, a procedure where a sclerosing agent is instilled into the pleural space to prevent recurrent pleural effusion in patients with advanced cancer. Nephrostomy Tube Placement: In cases of urinary obstruction due to cancer, ultrasound can assist in guiding the placement of a nephrostomy tube to drain urine from the kidney to relieve pain and prevent kidney damage. Ultrasound-guided procedures offer several advantages in oncological pain management, including improved accuracy, reduced risk of complications, and real-time visualization of anatomical structures. These procedures are often performed by interventional radiologists, pain management specialists, or palliative care teams in collaboration with oncologists to provide comprehensive care for cancer patients experiencing pain.