[Treatment of essential trigeminal neuralgia by Gasserian compression using balloon (50 cases)]

Between 1985 and 1989, 50 patients with trigeminal neuralgia were submitted for percutaneous gasserian ganglion compression, the procedure is the technic described by Mullan with some variants. The Fogarty catheter is introduced through a teflon catheter. The balloon is inflated to 0.5 cc during 8 minutes. So 46 patients were relieved of their pain; there were 7 (14%) recurrence for an interval of between 6 and 54 months (average 30 months). Dysesthesias were noted in two patients when the duration of compression was more prolonged. Two patients had transient oculomotor nerve palsy. The success rate after gasserian compression is similar to this obtained in the other percutaneous procedures. Despite the general anesthesia with intubation which is useful, the procedure is technically very easy and can be performed by a neurosurgeon who has not a long experience.