Application of the cryodenervation method in palliative medicine

Cryotherapy is currently experiencing a renaissance in clinical application. Among the various techniques of cold pain treatment, we can find local cryotherapy, systemic cryotherapy, as well as cryodestruction. Cryodestruction, popularly known as cryolezia, is a type of neurolysis used in invasive specialist pain treatment. The method consists of temporary or permanent reduction of nerve sensitivity to pain stimuli by local freezing of tissue. The method is characterised by high safety and relative ease of application. Therefore, in recent years, the cryodestruction method has been used in medical fields other than pain treatment. The article discusses the historical context of cryotherapy application, the technical aspect of applicators, physiological changes occurring during tissue freezing, and potential indications for the use of the cryodestruction method in palliative medicine, including pain treatment. The article discusses the use of cryolescence, which can be a valuable complement to other methods of pain treatment, especially in pain that is difficult to relieve with conventional methods. Due to its simplicity of application, and few contraindications, it is a method worth considering in palliative patients.