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The Use of Spinal Cord Stimulation in Refractory Abdominal Visceral Pain: Case Reports and Literature Review
Author(s) -
Tiede Jeffrey M.,
Ghazi Salim M.,
Lamer Tim J.,
Obray Jon B.
Publication year - 2006
Publication title -
pain practice
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.899
H-Index - 58
eISSN - 1533-2500
pISSN - 1530-7085
DOI - 10.1111/j.1533-2500.2006.00085.x
Subject(s) - medicine , refractory (planetary science) , spinal cord stimulation , spinal cord , stimulation , abdominal pain , anesthesia , surgery , psychiatry , physics , astrobiology
Patients will commonly seek medical attention for refractory abdominal pain. The many causes of abdominal pain include pathologies of the gastrointestinal, genitourinary, musculoskeletal, and nervous systems. Unfortunately, a large number of patients will develop chronic abdominal pain that is recalcitrant to definitive therapies and nonspecific treatments such as cognitive‐behavioral, physical, and pharmacologic therapies. Although spinal cord stimulation is classically used for neuropathic and ischemic conditions, a growing number of reports describe its efficacy in visceral disease. We describe our experience with spinal cord stimulation in two patients with refractory abdominal pain. Although the exact etiology in these complex patients is not defined, it is theorized that visceral hypersensitivity is at least one component. Finally, we will summarize the applicable literature in order to explain a possible mechanism of analgesia in visceral disease.