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Subcutaneous Trigeminal Nerve Field Stimulation for Refractory Facial Pain
Published on: May 10, 2017
Intranasal lidocaine 8% spray for second-division trigeminal neuralgia
A Kanai1, A Suzuki, M Kobayashi
1Department of Anesthesiology, Kitasato University School of Medicine, 1-15-1 Kitasato, Sagamihara 228-8555, Japan. kanaiakifumi@aol.com
British Journal of Anaesthesia
|August 3, 2006
Summary
Intranasal lidocaine 8% spray effectively reduced trigeminal neuralgia pain. This treatment provided prompt, temporary relief without significant adverse effects in patients.
Area of Science:
- Neurology
- Anesthesiology
Background:
- Trigeminal nerve blocks are common for trigeminal neuralgia but can cause paresthesia.
- The second division of the trigeminal nerve involves the sphenopalatine ganglion, located near the middle turbinate.
Purpose of the Study:
- To evaluate the efficacy of intranasal lidocaine 8% spray for paroxysmal pain in second-division trigeminal neuralgia.
Main Methods:
- A randomized, placebo-controlled, crossover study involving 25 patients with second-division trigeminal neuralgia.
- Patients received either lidocaine 8% or saline placebo via metered-dose spray in the affected nostril.
- Pain was assessed using a 10 cm visual analogue scale (VAS) before and 15 minutes after treatment.
Main Results:
- Intranasal lidocaine 8% significantly reduced VAS scores from 8.0 cm to 1.5 cm (p<0.001).
- Placebo spray showed no significant pain reduction (7.9 cm to 7.6 cm).
- 23 out of 25 patients reported moderate or better pain relief with lidocaine, compared to 1 with placebo.
Conclusions:
- Intranasal lidocaine 8% spray offers prompt, temporary analgesia for second-division trigeminal neuralgia.
- The treatment was well-tolerated, with no serious adverse reactions reported.
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