Tests celiac plexus nerve injection with and without bupivacaine for pancreatic cancer pain
Compares a nerve-block procedure for pancreatic cancer pain with or without bupivacaine in adults.
Plain-language title generated from the registry record
Registry title: EUS-CPN With and Without Bupivacaine
Key facts
- Where
- Montreal, CanadaSee the site
Where in Canada
- Centre de recherche du Centre hospitalier de l'Université de MontréalMontreal, CanadaTaking people
Questions to ask the study team
- How often do I need to come in, and for how long each time?
- Are travel costs paid?
- Can I keep my own doctor?
- What happens if I want to stop?
Trial details
- Who runs it
- Centre hospitalier de l'Université de Montréal (CHUM)
- Trial code
- NCT04951804
- Record updated
- 10 November 2026
- Original description
Endoscopic ultrasound (EUS) allows EUS-guided trans gastric injection of absolute alcohol around the base of the celiac plexus (celiac plexus neurolysis (EUS-CPN)), to help alleviate pain associated with pancreatic cancer.Read full original descriptionShow less
A Randomized Controlled Trial of Endoscopic Ultrasound Guided Celiac Plexus Neurolysis (EUS-CPN) With and Without Bupivacaine
Endoscopic ultrasound (EUS) allows EUS-guided trans gastric injection of absolute alcohol around the base of the celiac plexus (celiac plexus neurolysis (EUS-CPN)), to help alleviate pain associated with pancreatic cancer.
It is standard procedure to inject bupivacaine immediately before injecting absolute alcohol, to theoretically prevent pain that may occur during and after the procedure. However, there are no data showing whether bupivacaine injection has any real influence on intra-procedural, immediate post-procedural, or long-term pain control. The injection of bupivacaine before the alcohol may have no effect, a synergistic effect, or an antagonistic effect, by diluting the alcohol, and reducing its neurolytic capacity. Inadvertent intravascular injection of bupivacaine may also cause irreversible cardiac arrhythmias and death.
The investigators therefore propose a randomized clinical trial to determine whether the exclusion of bupivacaine during EUS-guided CPN improves outcomes, or not.
Inclusion: Malignant-appearing pancreatic mass, or proven pancreatic cancer involving the pancreatic genu, body, or tail; Any level of abdominal or back pain considered to be potentially related to the mass:; New onset pain (<3 months); Constant; Centrally located; With or without irradiation to the back; No obvious other source of pain based on history and physical examination by the attending endosonographer; No possibility of surgical management; Signed, informed consent; Celiac axis accessible for bilateral neurolysis at EUS.
Exclusion: Allergy to bupivacaine.