Neuromodulation for Visceral Pain

Dr. Andrew Kaufman presents a comprehensive review of spinal cord stimulation (SCS) for visceral pain, including anginal, abdominal, pancreatic, and pelvic pain. He discusses the complexity of visceral pain pathways and the challenges in diagnosis and treatment. Highlighting key studies—including those using high-frequency (10 kHz) and traditional SCS—Dr. Kaufman showcases improvements in pain relief, opioid reduction, and quality of life. However, he emphasizes the variability in outcomes, the need for better patient selection, and the lack of robust randomized studies. A recent sham-controlled trial even questions efficacy for chronic pancreatitis, reinforcing the importance of refining protocols.