[Cluster headaches]

After taking a second look at a treatment that was common in 1933 for victims of cluster headaches, a doctor from Lieges, Belgium, is now training anesthesiologists in the technique of alcoholization of the sphenopalatine ganglion. The solution is filtered in through the supra-zygomatic channel. Cluster headaches, which are six times more likely to strike men than women, can last anywhere from a few minutes to several hours, affecting the patient's quality of life. The pain has been described as burning, piercing, penetrating, cutting and pounding. The author defines the illness, describes the symptoms and the predisposing conditions. The article gives an overview of the newly rediscovered treatment, that is making inroads in Europe. Other points include: a brief anatomy lesson, an explanation of the technique, proper positioning of patients, preparation of the solution and the nurse's role in the treatment.