The efficacy of bilateral sphenopalatine ganglion block under general anesthesia in trans-sphenoidal endoscopic hypophysectomy

Abstract

Background: The most important goal in endoscopic pituitary surgery is bloodless field with better visualization under hemodynamic stability and good analgesia to improve the outcome, the current study was performed to evaluate the intraoperative anesthetic and postoperative analgesic effects of bilateral sphenopalatine ganglion block(SPGB)as adjuvant to general anesthesia in endoscopic transsphenoidal resection of pituitary adenoma. Patients and methods: Thirty patients(ASA I-II)aged 22-55 years, randomly assigned into two equal groups. After stabilization of general anesthesia, the patients received bilateral sphenopalatine ganglion block with 2ml of either2% lidocaine: 1:200000 epinephrine (SPGB group) or sterile normal saline (control group). Mean arterial blood pressure was maintained at 60-70mmHg by using nitroglycerine. Intraoperative MAP and heart rate, Nitroglycerine and propranolol consumption, blood loss, average category scale, emergence time were recorded. Also, pre and postoperative plasma B-endorphin, VAS and time of the first request for analgesia, the total dose of meperidine consumption in the first 24hours postoperatively, patient's satisfaction and postoperative complication were recorded. Results: Sphenopalatine ganglion block group showed decrease in blood loss(P<0.001), ACS(P<0.01), nitroglycerine consumption(P<0.0001)and emergence time(P< 0.001). At PACU, visual analog pain score were lower in SPGB at 0,1,6(P<0.001), there were a high difference between two groups in B-endorphin levels(P<0.001)and also in dose of meperidine, % of patients needs analgesia and patients satisfaction(P<0.002), Conclusion: Use of sphenopalatine ganglion block with general anesthesia is a safe and effective technique, it contributes in adequate intra and postoperative analgesia needed for stabilization of hemodynamics with less blood loss, improving the quality of surgical field instead of controlled hypotensive technique during endoscopic endo-nasal trans-sphenoidal hypophysectomy.