Cardiovascular Response of Radiofrequency Therapy of Gasserian Ganglion with Lidocaine Local Anesthesia during the Treatment of Trigeminal Neuralgia: A Retrospective Single-blind Case-Control Study

Abstract

ObjectiveRadiofrequency thermocoagulation of Gasserian ganglion has a difficult problem how to provide perfect acesodyne for patients to make the treatment more smoothly and comfortably. In our study, we used moderate lidocaine local anesthesia to assess its safety and efficacy in the treatment of trigeminal neuralgia. MethodsFrom January 2017 to December 2020, 80 patients suffering from trigeminal neuralgia were treated with radiofrequency thermocoagulation through oval foramen in our institution. They were entirely enrolled and randomly divided into the study group and the control group . In the study group moderate lidocaine was given outside and inside of the oval foramen after puncturing in place,while in the control group the same dose of normal saline was given in the same way. The mean arterial pressure (MAP), heart rate(HR) and visual analogue scale (VAS) were recorded respectively at different treatment temperatures. Resultshe fluctuation of mean arterial pressure and heart rate in the experimental group were lower than those in the control group, and the difference was statistically significant. The two groups showed a significant difference in MAP, HR and VAS at different treatment temperatures. Meanwhile, the fluctuation of blood pressure and heart rate in the study group were lower than those in the control group. ConclusionReasonable lidocaine local anesthesia can obviously depress the fluctuation of blood pressure and heart rate during the Gasserian ganglion radiofrequency thermocoagulation in treatment trigeminal neuralgia. This simple anesthesia method can effectively reduce pain and the occurrence of cardiovascular adverse events.