CHRONIC DIARRHEA - INDUCED BY CELIAC PLEXUS BLOCK

A 59-year-old man had severe chronic diarrhea after a celiac plexus bl ock. The block was performed because of unbearable abdominal pain caus ed by a benign cyst in the lesser sac. The patient also had diabetes m ellitus and was treated with metformin. Thorough investigation and var ious therapeutic trials failed to detect the cause for the diarrhea or to improve it. Based on the temporal relationship we wonder whether t he diarrhea was induced by the celiac block procedure. The relevant li terature is reviewed.