Mental Nerve Blocks for Lip Brachytherapy: A Case Report.

Area of Science:

• Oncology
• Anesthesiology
• Radiation Therapy

Background:

• High dose rate interstitial brachytherapy is a standard treatment for lower lip carcinoma.
• Catheter placement for brachytherapy can cause significant pain, often necessitating monitored anesthesia care or general anesthesia.

Purpose of the Study:

• To evaluate the efficacy of bilateral mental nerve blocks with minimal sedation for facilitating brachytherapy catheter placement.
• To explore an alternative to monitored anesthesia care or general anesthesia for this procedure.

Main Methods:

• The study involved patients undergoing high dose rate interstitial brachytherapy for lower lip carcinoma.
• Bilateral mental nerve blocks were administered using local anesthetic, supplemented with minimal sedation.
• Catheter placement was performed following the nerve block procedure.

Main Results:

• Bilateral mental nerve blocks with minimal sedation successfully facilitated the placement of brachytherapy catheters.
• This technique potentially reduces the requirement for monitored anesthesia care or general anesthesia.
• Patient comfort and procedural ease were observed.

Conclusions:

• Bilateral mental nerve blocks combined with minimal sedation offer a viable and potentially less invasive method for managing pain during lower lip brachytherapy catheter placement.
• This approach may improve patient experience and streamline the brachytherapy procedure.