Abstract

RIVERA DIAZ, Roberto Carlo; BASTIDAS BENAVIDES, José Libardo  and  GARCIA ALVAREZ, Juliana. Gasserian ganglion thermal radiofrequency in patients with trigeminal neuralgia. Rev. colomb. anestesiol. [online]. 2013, vol.41, n.2, pp.127-131. ISSN 0120-3347.  https://doi.org/10.1016/j.rca.2013.03.001.

Introduction: Trigeminal neuralgia (TN) affects primarily women over 50 years of age and its etiology is unknown in most cases. Drugs are first line treatment, but they are ineffective in 40% of cases. Interventional therapies are a management option in those cases. Objective: To determine the safety and efficacy of Gasserian ganglion thermal (TR) radiofrequency in patients with TN. Materials and method: Descriptive, prospective follow-up study of a cohort of 15 patients with a diagnosis of TN who underwent Gasserian ganglion TR at the Colombian Pain Institute between May 2010 and May 2011, with at least one year follow-up. Results: The mean age of the patients intervened was 52 years, 73% were females with rightsided predominance (67%) with involvement mainly of the second and third branch of the trigeminal nerve. After the intervention, all 15 patients went from severe pain to a condition ranging between mild and no pain, and 50% were event pain-free one year after the procedure. Conclusions: TN has a significant effect on quality of life. The main treatment is pharmacological but when it fails, Gasserian ganglion TR is an effective and safe option available in our setting.

Keywords : Trigeminal neuralgia; Radio waves; Chronic pain; Anesthesia.

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