Related Experiment Video
Updated: Dec 7, 2025

Subcutaneous Trigeminal Nerve Field Stimulation for Refractory Facial Pain
Published on: May 10, 2017
Trigeminal Neuralgia Crisis - Intravenous Phenytoin as Acute Rescue Treatment
Susana Schnell1, Mariano Marrodan1, Julian N Acosta2
1Neurology Department, Fleni, Buenos Aires, Argentina.
Objective:
The aim of this retrospective cohort study was to analyze responses to intravenous (IV) phenytoin (PHT) for trigeminal neuralgia (TN) crisis in a group of patients treated at our institution.
Background:
TN is one of the most common causes of facial pain. Its treatment relies on preventive therapy with either carbamazepine or oxcarbazepine. During severe pain episodes, patients may be unable to eat, drink, or even swallow oral medication, requiring in-hospital treatment. There is scarce evidence to support IV medication use for TN, making management of this condition difficult.
Methods:
We reviewed clinical records of patients with TN crisis consulting the emergency department at a tertiary neurological referral center in Buenos Aires, Argentina, treated with IV PHT as analgesic strategy, and with at least 1-month posttreatment follow-up. Demographic features, magnetic resonance imaging findings, and therapeutic management were analyzed.
Results:
Thirty-nine patients with TN were included, 18 (46.2%) receiving IV PHT more than once (total number of infusions administered, 65). Immediate pain relief was observed in 89.2% (58/65) and 15.4% (10/65) presented side effects.
Conclusions:
We recommend IV PHT as acute rescue treatment in TN crisis.
More Related Videos
10:35Microvascular Decompression: Salient Surgical Principles and Technical Nuances
Published on: July 5, 2011
08:44Continuous IV Infusion is the Choice Treatment Route for Arginine-vasopressin Receptor Blocker Conivaptan in Mice to Study Stroke-evoked Brain Edema
Published on: September 1, 2016
Related Concept Videos
Venous Thrombosis III: Interprofessional Care
Cardiopulmonary Resuscitation IV: Pharmacological Management
Drug Delivery: Parenteral Route
There are three primary parenteral routes: intravenous (IV), intramuscular (IM), and subcutaneous (SC). The IV route introduces the drug directly into the bloodstream, ensuring immediate action. The IM route...
Antiepileptic Drugs: Sodium Channel Blockers
Sodium channel blockers modulate ion channels, particularly voltage-gated sodium channels. They block only sodium ion movement.
Among the most commonly prescribed antiepileptic drugs are...
Drug Delivery: Enteral Route
Local Anesthetics: Clinical Application as Intravenous Regional Anesthesia
One of the advantages of...