Objective. The objective of this study was to compare the plasma alcohol concentrations after celiac plexus block in different types of cancer. The authors studied the consecutive changes of plasma alcohol concentrations after celiac plexus block in a gastric cancer group (group 1, n = 6) and a pancreatic cancer group (group 2, n = 5).

Method. Celiac plexus block was performed with 10 ml of absolute ethyl alcohol. In all patients, operations had been performed 1.2-3.5 years before the block. Arterial blood was sampled at 0, 5, 10, 15, 30, 60, 120, 240, and 480 minutes after the block.

Results. The average dose of absolute ethyl alcohol was 0.186 g/kg in group 1 and 0.182 g/kg in group 2. Plasma alcohol concentrations in group 1 were about four times greater than those of group 2 ( p < 0.01). The mean maximum level was reached at 15 minutes after injection in group 1 (44.0 ± 5.8 mg/dl) and at 30 minutes in group 2 (13.1 ± 2.4 mg/dl).

Conclusion. Plasma alcohol concentrations after celiac plexus block showed different patterns according to the site of cancer and the type of operation performed.