Pathways of anesthetic from the thoracic paravertebral region to the celiac ganglion

Communication between the lower thoracic paravertebral region and the celiac ganglion through the retrocrural space was investigated. After dye was injected into the endothoracic fascia in the lower thoracic paravertebral region at the T11 level, its spread to the celiac ganglion was examined in fifteen cadavers. The dye reached the celiac ganglion in nine cadavers (60%) by passing through the retrocrural space, along the greater and lesser splanchnic nerves and through the split in the crus of the diaphragm through which the splanchnic nerves traveled. In the remaining six cadavers, dye spread toward the ganglion along the crus of the diaphragm. In three living subjects the spread of a radio-opaque dye injected in the same manner was studied using 3D-computed tomography. This study confirmed that the radio-opaque dye traveled toward the celiac ganglion along the crus of the diaphragm. From our results we suggest that a fluid communication may exist between the lower thoracic paravertebral region and the celiac ganglion in cadavers and in living humans and that clinicians should be aware of this possible route of spread when administering lower thoracic paravertebral anesthesia.