Blockade of ganglion impar through sacrococcygeal junction for cancer-related pelvic pain

Abstract

Impar ganglion block provides pain relief in patients who suffer from sympathetically mediated pain arising from disorders of viscera and somatic structures within the pelvis and perineum. We performed impar ganglion blockade through sacrococcygeal junction instead of anococcygeal ligament in 9 patients who had localized perineal pain of visceral origin. All the blocks which were performed through sacrococcygeal junction without bending the needle under fluoroscopic guidance were easy to perform without any complication. Pain intensity by Visual Analogue Scale, daily opioid requirements, and complications related to opioids were evaluated before the procedure, and for 2 months after the procedure. The intensity of pain, daily opioid requirement and the complication related to the opoioids were significantly decreased in 8 patients. We suggest that impar ganglion block through sacrococcygeal junction appears to be safe and effective procedure in the management of perineal pain related to malignancy.