Article
Clinical Neurology
Bingyue Xin, Keyue Xie, Ge Luo, Ming Yao
Summary: This study evaluated the effectiveness and safety of CT-guided radiofrequency thermocoagulation of the sphenopalatine ganglion for refractory headache. The treatment was found to significantly relieve headache symptoms without any serious adverse reactions.
Article
Medicine, Research & Experimental
Guilherme S. Piedade, Jan Vesper, Rahel Hoyer, Thomas Klenzner, Philipp J. Slotty
Summary: SPG stimulation for cluster headaches can still be effective even with deviations from planned lead positions, as shown in the study. However, the study might not have had enough power to detect any correlation between lead position aberrations and clinical outcomes. The proximity of the electrode contacts to the vidian canal seems to play a critical role in the success of SPG stimulation.
Article
Clinical Neurology
Jr-Wei Wu, Shu-Ting Chen, Yen-Feng Wang, Kuan-Lin Lai, Ting-Yi Chen, Shih-Pin Chen, Wei-Ta Chen, Shuu-Jiun Wang
Summary: This study used manual measurement to investigate the association between the volume of the sphenopalatine ganglion (SPG) and cluster headache (CH). The results showed that the SPG volume was larger in CH patients compared to non-headache controls, and it was moderately correlated with clinical profiles on the headache side.
JOURNAL OF HEADACHE AND PAIN
(2023)
Review
Clinical Neurology
Taehong Lim, Stephen Anderson, Robert Stocum, Karen Ren, Winston Singleton, Jayesh Vallabh, Kristen Noon, Tristan Weaver
Summary: The article provides an integrated overview of the current knowledge of neuromodulation for the sphenopalatine ganglion (SPG) by reviewing relevant literature. Recent studies suggest that SPG neuromodulation is clinically important for treating acute cluster headaches and reducing the frequency of attacks, as demonstrated in clinical trials.
CURRENT PAIN AND HEADACHE REPORTS
(2023)
Article
Medicine, Research & Experimental
Loizos Siakallis, Steve E. J. Connor
Summary: The study investigates using computed tomography angiographic studies (CTA) to localize the sphenopalatine ganglion for neuromodulation treatment of cluster headaches. Results show that this method is feasible and reproducible, potentially aiding in the placement and positioning of the electrode array.
Article
Health Care Sciences & Services
Na Eun Kim, Ji Eun Kim, Sook Young Lee, Ho Young Gil, Sang Kee Min, Bumhee Park, Seung Il Kim, Ra Yoon Cho, Jae Chul Koh, Yi Hwa Choi, Jae Hyung Kim, Sang Jun Park, Jong Bum Choi
Summary: This study compared the effects of the drip method and topical method in transnasal sphenopalatine ganglion block. The drip method group showed significant increases in facial temperature changes at 30 minutes after the procedure, while the topical method group did not show significant differences. There were statistically significant differences in temperature changes and VAS scores between the two groups in various facial areas.
JOURNAL OF PERSONALIZED MEDICINE
(2022)
Review
Clinical Neurology
L. M. Sanchez-Gomez, M. Polo-deSantos, A. Pinel-Gonzalez, C. Oreja-Guevara, S. Luengo-Matos
Summary: The study found that peripheral neurostimulation of the sphenopalatine ganglion (SPG) is effective in treating refractory chronic cluster headache, with positive results for pain relief, attack frequency, medication use, and patients' quality of life. However, a significant number of adverse events were observed in the first 30 days following the intervention, leading to device removal in some patients. Long-term data is lacking.
Article
Clinical Neurology
Umit Akkemik, Dostali Aliyev, Gungor Enver Özgencil
Summary: This retrospective observational study investigated the short- to medium-term effects of pulsed radiofrequency (PRF) treatment on episodic cluster headache. The results showed significantly lower VAS scores at 1, 3, and 6 months after the PRF procedure, along with a reduction in medication use and improvement in autonomic symptoms. No complications were reported. Therefore, PRF treatment of the sphenopalatine ganglion is an effective and safe option for episodic cluster headache in the short to medium term.
Article
Clinical Neurology
Dilan Patel, Monica Taljaard, Krishan Yadav, Daniel James, Jeffrey J. Perry
Summary: Canadian emergency physicians commonly use intravenous dopamine receptor antagonists, ketorolac with or without dopamine receptor antagonists, intravenous fluid boluses, NSAIDs alone, and acetaminophen for primary headaches. A large proportion of physicians have never used peripheral nerve blocks, but among those who have, the majority find them safe and effective. The majority of respondents would consider peripheral nerve blocks as a first-line treatment option if sufficient evidence is provided from a future trial.
Article
Medicine, General & Internal
Roemer B. Brandt, Leopoldine A. Wilbrink, Ilse F. de Coo, Joost Haan, Wim M. Mulleners, Frank J. P. M. Huygen, Erik W. van Zwet, Michel D. Ferrari, Rolf Fronczek
Summary: ONS is a safe, well-tolerated and long-term effective treatment for medically intractable chronic cluster headache.
Review
Anesthesiology
Vwaire Orhurhu, Lisa Huang, Rodrigo C. Quispe, Faizan Khan, Jay Karri, Ivan Urits, Jamaal Hasoon, Omar Viswanath, Alan D. Kaye, Alaa Abd-Elsayed
Summary: Headache is a common condition that significantly impacts patients' quality of life and results in high societal costs. This review summarizes evidence on the use of radiofrequency ablation (RFA) for headache treatment, suggesting short-term therapeutic benefits but calling for further research on long-term effects.
Article
Surgery
Yuna Guo, Xiaoping Wang, Jingjing Bian, Zhi Dou, Liqiang Yang, Jiaxiang Ni, Yuanzhang Tang
Summary: LTPRA of SPG can be considered an effective and alternative surgical modality in treating patients with chronic and episodic CH, based on SPG block. The clinical improvement rates showed some fluctuations at different follow-up time points, but no serious complications occurred.
VIDEOSURGERY AND OTHER MINIINVASIVE TECHNIQUES
(2021)
Review
Clinical Neurology
Elina Kc, Jaisan Islam, Young Seok Park
Summary: This article discusses the challenging management of trigeminal neuralgia and the lack of modulation approaches targeting the trigeminal ganglion. By exploring the role of the trigeminal ganglion and associated molecules and neuropeptides in TN, it is possible to improve the management of this intractable pain.
JOURNAL OF HEADACHE AND PAIN
(2022)
Article
Clinical Neurology
Ida Stisen Fogh-Andersen, Jens Christian Hedemann Sorensen, Rigmor Hojland Jensen, Anne Lene Knudsen, Kaare Meier
Summary: This study reports the results of occipital nerve stimulation in 15 patients with chronic cluster headache. The results showed that occipital nerve stimulation significantly reduced the frequency and intensity of headache attacks, leading to clinically important improvement in patients' headache condition.
Article
Pediatrics
Megan Kouri, Marta Somaini, Victor Hugo Gonzalez Cardenas, Kacper Niburski, Marie Vigouroux, Pablo Ingelmo
Summary: This case series evaluated the effectiveness of sphenopalatine ganglion (SPG) block for preventive treatment of chronic daily headache (CDH) in adolescents. Results showed that repeat SPG blockade provided sustained benefits for adolescents with refractory CDH, as indicated by improvements in Patient's Global Impression of Change (PGIC) scores and depression subscale of the Revised Children's Anxiety and Depression Scale (RCADS).
