Gasserian Ganglion Stimulation for Facial Pain

2020 ◽  
pp. 1-9
Author(s):  
Dali Yin ◽  
Konstantin V. Slavin
Keyword(s):  
Facial Pain ◽  
Gasserian Ganglion

scholarly journals Percutaneous radiofrequency treatment of the gasserian ganglion for trigeminal neuralgia complicated by trochlear nerve palsy: a case report

2021 ◽  
pp. rapm-2020-102285
Author(s):  
Pascal SH Smulders ◽  
Michel AMB Terheggen ◽  
José W Geurts ◽  
Jan Willem Kallewaard
Keyword(s):  
Trigeminal Neuralgia ◽  
Cranial Nerve ◽  
Facial Pain ◽  
Anatomical Variations ◽  
Anterior Inferior Cerebellar Artery ◽  
Gasserian Ganglion ◽  
Radiofrequency Treatment ◽  
Experienced Pain ◽  
Cerebellar Artery ◽  
Trochlear Nerve Palsy

BackgroundTrigeminal neuralgia (TN) has the highest incidence of disorders causing facial pain. TN is provoked by benign stimuli, like shaving, leading to severe, short-lasting pain. Patients are initially treated using antiepileptic drugs; however, multiple invasive options are available when conservative treatment proves insufficient. Percutaneous radiofrequency treatment of the trigeminal, or gasserian, ganglion (RF-G) is a procedure regularly used in refractory patients with comorbidities. RF-G involves complex needle maneuvering to perform selective radiofrequency heat treatment of the affected divisions. We present a unique case of cranial nerve 4 (CN4) paralysis after RF-G.Case presentationA male patient in his 60s presented with sharp left-sided facial pain and was diagnosed with TN, attributed to the maxillary and mandibular divisions. MRI showed a vascular loop of the anterior inferior cerebellar artery without interference of the trigeminal complex. The patient opted for RF-G after inadequate conservative therapy. The procedure was performed by an experienced pain physician and guided by live fluoroscopy. The patient was discharged without problems but examined the following day for double vision. Postprocedural MRI showed enhanced signaling between the trigeminal complex and the brainstem. Palsy of CN4 was identified by a neurologist, and spontaneous recovery followed 5 months after the procedure.ConclusionsMention of postprocedural diplopia in guidelines is brief, and the exact incidence remains unknown. Different mechanisms for cranial nerve (CN) palsy have been postulated: incorrect technique, anatomical variations, and secondary heat injury. We observed postprocedural hemorrhage and hypothesized that bleeding might be a contributing factor in injury of CNs after RF-G.

Controlled thermocoagulation of trigeminal ganglion and rootlets for differential destruction of pain fibers

1974 ◽  
Vol 40 (2) ◽  
pp. 143-156 ◽  
Author(s):  
William H. Sweet ◽  
James G. Wepsic
Keyword(s):  
Trigeminal Neuralgia ◽  
Facial Pain ◽  
Electrical Heating ◽  
Gasserian Ganglion ◽  
Foramen Ovale ◽  
Content Type ◽  
Corneal Scarring ◽  
Radiofrequency Heating ◽  
Neurological Morbidity ◽  
Fine Print

✓ The authors report their experience in the treatment of trigeminal neuralgia with controlled increments of radiofrequency heating from an electrode placed in the Gasserian ganglion or its posterior rootlets. Touch is preserved in some or all of a trigeminal zone rendered analgesic. The electrode tip is introduced through the foramen ovale and placed among the desired rootlets with the help of a combination of radiographs and the conscious patient's response to electrical stimulation with a square wave signal and gentle electrical heating. The degree of heat is measured by a thermister at the electrode tip. The patient's cooperation is maintained by the use of the neurolept anesthetic Innovar and the production of brief unconsciousness for the painful parts of the operation by methohexital (Brevital). Of 274 patients with facial pain so treated, 214 had trigeminal neuralgia; 91% of the latter group experienced relief of pain and 125 followed for 2½ to 6 years had a recurrence rate of 22%. In a total of 353 procedures, there has been no mortality and no neurological morbidity outside the trigeminal nerve. Only six of the patients with trigeminal neuralgia have complained significantly of postoperative paresthesias. The most serious undesired result has been the production of an anesthetic cornea in 28 patients, one of whom lost the sight of one eye due to corneal scarring. Correlating findings in our patients with those in studies by other authors, we conclude that the preservation of some touch is due to resistance to heating by the heavily myelinated A-beta fibers.

Cavernous hemangioma of Meckel's cave

1988 ◽  
Vol 68 (4) ◽  
pp. 645-647 ◽  
Author(s):  
Michael G. Fehlings ◽  
William S. Tucker
Keyword(s):  
Cavernous Hemangioma ◽  
Vascular Malformation ◽  
Facial Pain ◽  
Gasserian Ganglion ◽  
Middle Fossa ◽  
Meckel’S Cave ◽  
Content Type ◽  
First Case ◽  
Meckel's Cave ◽  
Fine Print

✓ A case of a cavernous hemangioma located within Meckel's cave and involving the gasserian ganglion is described in a patient presenting with facial pain and a trigeminal nerve deficit. Although these lesions have been reported to occur in the middle fossa, this is believed to be the first case of such a vascular malformation arising solely from within Meckel's cave.

scholarly journals Radiofrequency Thermocoagulation Through Foramen Rotundum Versus Foramen Ovale for the Treatment of V2 Trigeminal Neuralgia

2019 ◽  
Vol 6 (22;6) ◽  
pp. E609-E614
Author(s):  
Cong-yang Yan
Keyword(s):  
Trigeminal Neuralgia ◽  
Facial Pain ◽  
Operation Time ◽  
Controlled Clinical Trial ◽  
Gasserian Ganglion ◽  
Internal Opening ◽  
Foramen Ovale ◽  
Maxillary Nerve ◽  
Radiofrequency Thermocoagulation ◽  
Foramen Rotundum

Background: Percutaneous radiofrequency thermocoagulation through the foramen rotundum (FR) is a new approach for the treatment of V2 trigeminal neuralgia (TN). Objectives: This study aimed to compare the efficacy and safety of the FR approach with that of the foramen ovale (FO) approach. Study Design: Nonrandomized controlled clinical trial. Setting: The study was conducted at Huaian Hospital of Huaian City, Huaian, China. Methods: From July 2014 to December 2016, 80 consecutive patients with V2 TN were prospectively assigned into the FO group (n = 40) or the FR group (n = 40). All radiofrequency thermocoagulation procedures were performed under the guidance of digital subtraction angiography (DSA). Patients in the FO group were treated with Gasserian ganglion ablation through the Hartel approach. Patients in the FR group received ablation of the maxillary nerve at the internal opening of the FR. Facial pain was evaluated using the Visual Analog Scale preoperatively and postoperatively at 1 week, 6 months, and 1 year. Results: All surgical procedures were successfully completed using DSA guidance. The FR group had no facial pain at postoperative 1 week, 6 months, and 1 year. The facial fain was not relieved in 4 patients of the FO group. They were treated with radiofrequency thermocoagulation of the maxillary nerve through the FR and maintained painless at postoperative 1 week, 6 months, and 1 year. At postoperative 1 year, another 3 patients relapsed in the FO group. The incidences of facial numbness and swelling did not differ significantly between the 2 groups (all P > 0.05). There was no postoperative corneal involvement or masticatory weakness in the FR group. However, corneal involvement and masticatory weakness occurred postoperatively in 22 (55%) patients and 31 (77.5%) patients in the FO group. The FR group had significantly shorter operation time than the FO group (19.3 ± 5.9 vs. 32.7 ± 8.7 minutes; P < 0.05). Limitations: We were unable to avoid the V1 and V3 branches, despite multiple adjustments of the needed position in 35 of the 40 patients in this group. Conclusions: For the treatment of V2 TN, thermocoagulation of the maxillary nerve through the FR had better efficacy and fewer complications in comparison with the Gasserian ganglion ablation through the FO

scholarly journals Radiofrequency Thermoablation of the Gasserian Ganglion Versus the Peripheral Branches of the Trigeminal Nerve for Treatment of Trigeminal Neuralgia: A Randomized, Control Trial

2019 ◽  
Vol 2 (22.2) ◽  
pp. 147-154
Author(s):  
Neerja Bharti
Keyword(s):  
Pain Relief ◽  
Trigeminal Neuralgia ◽  
Trigeminal Nerve ◽  
Facial Pain ◽  
Control Group ◽  
Study Group ◽  
Gasserian Ganglion ◽  
Idiopathic Trigeminal Neuralgia ◽  
Radiofrequency Thermoablation

Background: Trigeminal neuralgia is the most painful condition of facial pain leading to impairment of routine activities. Although radiofrequency thermoablation (RFT) of the Gasserian ganglion is widely used for the treatment of idiopathic trigeminal neuralgia in patients having ineffective pain relief with medical therapy, the incidence of complications like hypoesthesia, neuroparalytic keratitis, and masticatory muscles weakness is high. Recent case reports have shown the effectiveness of RFT of the peripheral branches of the trigeminal nerve for relief of refractory chronic facial pain conditions including trigeminal neuralgia. Objectives: This study was conducted to compare the efficacy and safety of RFT of the peripheral branches of the trigeminal nerve with RFT of the Gasserian ganglion for the management of idiopathic trigeminal neuralgia. Study Design: Prospective, randomized, observer-blinded, clinical trial. Setting: Tertiary care hospital and medical education and research institute. Methods: A total of 40 adult patients of idiopathic trigeminal neuralgia were randomly allocated into 2 groups. The control group received RFT of the Gasserian ganglion while the study group received RFT of the peripheral branches of trigeminal nerve. The procedures were performed in the operation room under all aseptic precautions with fluoroscopic guidance. Post-procedure, the patients were assessed for loss of sensation along the nerve distribution and the adequacy of pain relief on the Numerical Rating Scale (NRS). The patients were followed up for 3 month to assess the quality of pain relief by the NRS and the Barrow Neurological Institute (BNI) pain intensity scale. Improvement in pain was considered excellent if patients had complete pain relief without any medication, good if there was significant reduction in pain (> 50%) with or without medication, and poor if there was less than 50% reduction in pain with medications. Patients were also assessed for numbness and any other side effects. Patients’ satisfaction with the procedure was recorded. Results: Nineteen patients in the control group and 18 in study group had effective pain relief of up to 3 months. Their pain scores were comparable at all time intervals, though the number of patients receiving supplementary medications was more in study group at 2 months (P = 0.015). The patients showed overall satisfaction score of 8.5 (8-9) and 8 (7-9) in control and study groups respectively. The average procedure duration was 30 (30-38) minutes in the control group and 28 (25-40) minutes in the study group. Most of the patients in both groups had mild numbness after the procedure. One patient in the control group had lower eyelid swelling and another had mild weakness of the masseter muscle, which resolved few days later. No major complication was reported in the study group except for 1 patient who reported local ecchymosis. Limitations: The main limitation of the study is that the patients and the investigator performing the procedure were not blinded, though the person who assessed the patient during follow-up was blinded to the group assignment. Another limitation is that we could not follow up with the patients after 3 months due to time constraints. Conclusion: We found that radiofrequency thermoablation of the peripheral branches of the trigeminal nerve is an effective and safe procedure for the management of idiopathic trigeminal neuralgia. Key words: Idiopathic trigeminal neuralgia, radiofrequency thermoablation, Gasserian ganglion, peripheral nerve branches, pain, trigeminal nerve

Chronic electrical stimulation of the gasserian ganglion for the relief of pain in a series of 34 patients

1997 ◽  
Vol 86 (2) ◽  
pp. 197-202 ◽  
Author(s):  
Ethan Taub ◽  
Michael Munz ◽  
Ronald R. Tasker
Keyword(s):  
Electrical Stimulation ◽  
Facial Pain ◽  
Prophylactic Antibiotic ◽  
Stage Ii ◽  
Gasserian Ganglion ◽  
Content Type ◽  
Antibiotic Drugs ◽  
Chronic Electrical Stimulation ◽  
Fine Print ◽  
Stimulation Of

✓ The use of an implanted system for chronic electrical stimulation of the gasserian ganglion for relief of facial pain was described in 1980 by Meyerson and Håkansson. Between 1982 and 1995, the senior author (R.R.T.) performed gasserian ganglion stimulation in 34 patients for the relief of chronic medically intractable facial pain. The etiology of pain was peripheral damage to the trigeminal nerve in 22 patients (65%), central (stroke) damage in seven (21%), postherpetic neuralgia in four (12%), and unclassifiable cause in one (3%). All patients received a trial of transcutaneous stimulation (Stage I). Successful trials in 19 patients (56%) were followed by implantation of a permanent system (Stage II). Trial and postimplantation stimulation were deemed successful when there was a reduction of pain by at least 50% whenever the stimulator was on. Success rates varied from five (71%) of seven patients for central pain to five (23%) of 22 for peripheral pain and none (0%) of four for postherpetic neuralgia. The median follow-up duration in successful cases was 22.5 months. Infections occurred in seven patients, all of whom had undergone Stage II treatment. Infections were more frequent when the stimulating electrode from Stage I was left in place for Stage II (six [43%] of 14) than when completely new hardware was used and prophylactic antibiotic drugs were administered (one [20%] of five). Other complications included iatrogenic injury to the trigeminal nerve or ganglion in three cases (9%), transient diplopia in two (6%), increased pain in two (6%), and various technical problems in 10 (29%). It is concluded that pain of central origin (stroke) is the type most likely to be relieved by this procedure. This finding is new, as the few other clinical series reported to date contain no patients with this type of pain. The risk of infection seems to be lower when completely new hardware is used for Stage II and prophylactic antibiotic drugs are administered.

scholarly journals Surgical treatment of rare metastatic tumor in Meckel’s Cave: a case report

2017 ◽  
Vol 31 (3) ◽  
pp. 272-280
Author(s):  
Mugurel Radoi ◽  
Florin Stefanescu ◽  
Ram Vakilnejad ◽  
Fugaciu Rodica
Keyword(s):  
Trigeminal Neuralgia ◽  
Facial Pain ◽  
Metastatic Tumor ◽  
Gasserian Ganglion ◽  
Rare Tumor ◽  
Meckel’S Cave ◽  
Primary Malignancy ◽  
Meckel's Cave ◽  
Tumor Entity ◽  
Microsurgical Resection

Abstract Objectives: Metastases in Meckel’s cave are a rare tumor entity, but they should be considered in patients with a known primary malignancy and who complain of trigeminal neuralgia. Methods: The case of a patient with a left trigeminal neuralgia caused by a metastatic tumor involving the Meckel’s cave and Gasserian ganglion is reported. Preoperative symptoms included headache, trigeminal hyperesthesia and facial pain. Results: The patient underwent microsurgical resection of the tumor, obtaining a histological diagnosis and a resolution of the pain. Trigeminal motor function was preserved. Conclusion: The best treatment for tumors of Meckel’s cave, including metastases, is complete microsurgical removal. Although good results have been reported with radiosurgery, this treatment should be reserved only for nonresectable and residual tumors.

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