Erector Spinae Plane Continuous Catheters for Refractory Abdominal Pain Related to Necrotizing Pancreatitis: A Case...

Erector spinae plane (ESP) continuous catheters are used for the management of postsurgical pain. The use of these catheters for acute nonsurgical abdominal pain is not well defined. This case describes a patient with refractory abdominal pain secondary to necrotizing pancreatitis despite escalating doses of opioids, ketamine, and dexmedetomidine. Our patient declined epidural analgesia. Bilateral ESP continuous catheters successfully controlled her pain, and she was weaned off of all analgesics during the week following catheter placement. This case demonstrates that ESP continuous catheters can be considered for patients with acute nonsurgical abdominal pain especially when thoracic epidural analgesia is contraindicated.