Pain management in patients with pancreatic carcinoma

Abstract

Pancreatic cancer has a very poor prognosis and is often associated with severe pain. A variety of pain syndromes and pain pathophysiologies can be identified. Information about the analgesic efficacy of available oncological treatments is very limited, but the available data suggest that pharmacological and non-pharmacological approaches can be effective in the majority of cases. Guidelines have been developed for drug administration that emphasize indications, selection of routes, optimal dosing, and side effect treatment. Celiac plexus block can be considered for a subgroup of patients who fail to benefit from drug therapy. Optimally, pain management should be provided within a broader model of palliative care, which can address the many problems associated with this challenging disease.