scholarly journals Treatment restrictions in patients with severe stroke are associated with an increased risk of death

2017 ◽  
Vol 2 (3) ◽  
pp. 244-249 ◽  
Author(s):  
Marjolein Geurts ◽  
Floor AS de Kort ◽  
Paul LM de Kort ◽  
Julia H van Tuijl ◽  
Ghislaine JMW van Thiel ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Quality Of Life ◽  
Visual Analogue Scale ◽  
Functional Outcome ◽  
Analogue Scale ◽  
Modified Rankin Scale ◽  
Severe Stroke ◽  
Risk Of Death ◽  
Increased Risk ◽  
Treatment Restrictions

Introduction Treatment restrictions in the first 2 days after intracerebral haemorrhage have been independently associated with an increased risk of early death. It is unknown whether these restrictions also affect mortality if these are installed several days after stroke onset. Patients and methods Sixty patients with severe functional dependence at day 4 after ischaemic stroke or intracerebral haemorrhage were included in this prospective two-centre cohort study. The presence of treatment restrictions was assessed at the day of inclusion. Information about mortality, functional outcome (modified Rankin scale) score and quality of life (visual analogue scale) was recorded 6 months after stroke onset. Poor outcome was defined as modified Rankin scale >3. Satisfactory quality of life was defined as visual analogue scale ≥ 60. Results At 6 months, 30 patients had died, 19 survivors had a poor functional outcome and 9 patients had a poor quality of life. Treatment restrictions were independently associated with mortality at 6 months (adjusted relative risk, 1.30; 95% confidence interval, 1.06–1.59; p = 0.01), but not with functional outcome. Discussion Our findings were observed in 60 selected patients with severe stroke. Conclusion The instalment of treatment restrictions by itself may increase the risk of death after stroke, even if the first 4 days have passed. In future stroke studies, this potential confounder should be taken into account. Quality of life was satisfactory in the majority of the survivors, despite considerable disability.

scholarly journals Efektivitas imunoterapi terhadap gejala, temuan nasoendoskopik dan kualitas hidup pasien rinosinusitis alergi

2012 ◽  
Vol 42 (2) ◽  
Author(s):  
Yuwan Pradana ◽  
Teti Madiadipoera ◽  
Melati Sudiro ◽  
Arif Dermawan
Keyword(s):  
Quality Of Life ◽  
Visual Analogue Scale ◽  
Disease Severity ◽  
Analogue Scale ◽  
Specific Immunotherapy ◽  
Drug Intake ◽  
Allergen Specific Immunotherapy ◽  
Nasal Symptoms ◽  
Severity Of The Disease

Background: Rhinosinusitis is one of major health problems which increased the economic burden. With symptoms include nasal congestion, rhinorrhea, facial pain, and sometimes reduced or loss of smell, this condition may impair work productivity and quality of life (QOL). Rhinosinusitis is one of the comorbidity of allergic rhinitis. Allergen specific immunotherapy provides protection against the occurence of allergic symptoms and inflammatory reactions due to allergen exposure, that results in improvement  of QOL of allergic rhinosinusitis patients.   To assess the effectiveness of immunotherapy in the  severity of the disease, nasal symptoms, nasoendoscopic findings, drugs intake, and the QOL in allergic rhinosinusitis patients treated with specific immunotherapy. Methods: A retrospective descriptive study conducted at the Rhinology-Allergy Clinic of ORL-HNS Department, Dr.Hasan Sadikin General Hospital, Bandung, on January - December 2011, towards 25 patients, by anamnesis, severity of the disease using Visual Analogue Scale (VAS), nasal symptoms from Weeke, Davis and Okuda, nasoendoscopic findings from Lund-Kennedy, drug intake score, and QOL assesment using Rhinoconjuctivitis Quality of Life Questionaire. Results: There was a significant correlation (p<0,05) between specific immunotherapy for 1 year observed by reduced disease severity, reduced nasal symptoms, nasoendoscopic findings improvement, reduced drug intake, and increased Quality of Life which shows significant results from 3 months after immunotherapy using Wilcoxon differential test (p<0,001). Conclusion: Immunotherapy for 1 year was significantly reduced disease severity, reduced nasal symptoms, improved nasoendoscopic findings, reduced drug intake, and improvement of QOL in patients with allergic rhinosinusitis began from 3 months after immunotherapy and maintained afterwards. Key words: allergic rhinosinusitis, nasal symptoms, nasoendoscopy, specific immunotherapy, quality of life    Abstrak :  Latar belakang: Rinosinusitis merupakan salah satu masalah kesehatan yang semakin meningkat sehingga menjadi beban besar terhadap perekonomian masyarakat. Dengan gejala berupa hidung tersumbat, rinore, nyeri pada wajah dan dapat disertai berkurang atau hilangnya penciuman, kondisi ini dapat menurunkan produktivitas kerja dan kualitas hidup. Rinosinusitis merupakan salah satu komorbiditas dari rinitis alergi. Imunoterapi alergen spesifik bertujuan untuk memberikan perlindungan terhadap timbulnya gejala alergi dan reaksi inflamasi akibat pajanan alergen, sehingga dapat meningkatkan kualitas hidup pasien rinosinusitis. Tujuan: Membuktikan efektivitas imunoterapi terhadap tingkat beratnya penyakit, gejala hidung, nasoendoskopi, penggunaan obat dan kualitas hidup pasien rinosinusitis alergi yang diberikan pengobatan imunoterapi selama 3, 6, dan 12 bulan. Metode: Dilakukan penelitian deskriptif retrospektif, di Poliklinik Rinologi Alergi Ilmu Kesehatan THT-KL RSHS Bandung, dalam periode JanuariDesember 2011 pada 25 pasien, menggunakan anamnesis, tingkat berat penyakit berdasarkan Visual Analogue Scale (VAS), gejala hidung  berdasarkan Weeke, Davis dan Okuda, pemeriksaan nasoendoskopi berdasarkan Lund-Kennedy, penggunaan obat dan penilaian kualitas hidup dengan Rhinoconjuctivitis Quality of Life Questionaire. Hasil: Didapatkan hubungan bermakna berdasarkan uji chi-kuadrat-Friedman   antara imunoterapi selama 1 tahun (p<0,05) terhadap penurunan tingkat berat penyakit, penurunan gejala hidung, perbaikan temuan nasoendoskopi, penurunan penggunaan obat, serta peningkatan kualitas hidup. Didapat perbaikan secara bermakna sejak 3 bulan pasca imunoterapi (p<0,001) berdasarkan uji beda Wilcoxon. Kesimpulan: Imunoterapi selama 1 tahun efektif terhadap penurunan tingkat berat penyakit, penurunan gejala hidung, perbaikan temuan nasoendoskopi, penurunan penggunaan obat, serta peningkatan kualitas hidup pada pasien rinosinusitis alergi, dengan perbaikan sejak 3 bulan dan bertahan hingga 1 tahun pasca-imunoterapi. Kata kunci: rinosinusitis alergi, gejala hidung, nasoendoskopi, imunoterapi, kualitas hidup 

Comparison of an epicondylitis bandage with a wrist orthosis in patients with lateral epicondylitis

2018 ◽  
Vol 42 (6) ◽  
pp. 599-605 ◽  
Author(s):  
Halil Ekrem Akkurt ◽  
Hilal Kocabaş ◽  
Halim Yılmaz ◽  
Cemile Eser ◽  
Zafer Şen ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Quality Of Life ◽  
Muscle Strength ◽  
Visual Analogue Scale ◽  
Functional Status ◽  
Effective Treatment ◽  
Analogue Scale ◽  
Short Form ◽  
Treatment Options ◽  
Lateral Epicondylitis

Background: Lateral epicondylitis is one of the most common causes of elbow pain. It is generally observed in people between the ages of 40 and 50 years, and the dominant extremity is more frequently affected. Various noninvasive methods are frequently used; however, studies investigating the effectiveness of the orthoses are limited and with controversial outcomes. Objective: To investigate the effectiveness of a hand-wrist resting orthosis and an epicondylitis bandage in lateral epicondylitis. Study design: Randomized controlled trial. Methods: In total, 82 patients diagnosed with unilateral lateral epicondylitis were enrolled into the study. Hand-wrist resting orthosis was applied to 45 patients and epicondylitis bandage was applied to 41 patients. Patients were evaluated before treatment and at 6 weeks after treatment with a Visual Analogue Scale; Disabilities of the Arm, Shoulder, and Hand questionnaire; the Short Form 36; and a determination of hand grasping force. Results: Both groups were similar in terms of age, body mass index, gender, frequency of lateral epicondylitis on the dominant side, dominant extremity, and duration of complaints ( p > 0.05). A statistically significant recovery was detected in both groups between the pre-therapy values and the values at the sixth week in terms of Visual Analogue Scale scores; Disabilities of the Arm, Shoulder, and Hand questionnarie scores; hand grasping forces; and the Short Form 36 mental and physical component scores ( p < 0.05). However, there were no significant differences detected between the two therapy methods before the therapy and at the sixth week of treatment in all parameter values ( p > 0.05). Conclusion: Our results suggest that both epicondylitis bandage and hand-wrist resting orthosis are effective treatment options for lateral epicondylitis–induced pain, functional status, muscle strength, and quality of life. Furthermore, neither treatment option was superior to the other. Large, randomized studies are necessary for more clear statements. Clinical relevance Epicondylitis bandage and hand-wrist resting orthosis are equally effective treatment options for lateral epicondylitis–induced pain, functional status, muscle strength, and quality of life.

scholarly journals Applicazione della sulfadiazina argentica 1% in crema per il trattamento e la prevenzione delle infezioni nelle ulcere croniche degli arti inferiori/Use of silver sulfadiazine 1% cream for the treatment and prevention of infected chronic leg ulcers

2019 ◽  
Vol 3 (2) ◽  
Author(s):  
Francesco Giacinto ◽  
Elisabetta Giacinto ◽  
Mario Giacinto ◽  
Filomena Casciani ◽  
Domenica Ciuffoletti
Keyword(s):  
Quality Of Life ◽  
Visual Analogue Scale ◽  
Analogue Scale ◽  
Skin Lesions ◽  
Silver Sulfadiazine ◽  
Leg Ulcers ◽  
Systemic Antibiotic Therapy ◽  
Quality Of Life Scale ◽  
Life Scale

Il trattamento delle lesioni cutanee è complesso per la varietà delle eziologie, della presentazione della ferita, del decorso e delle elevate comorbidità associate. La risoluzione di un’eventuale infezione, che rappresenta la condizione indispensabile per la successiva guarigione della lesione, è da considerarsi l’obiettivo primario di qualsiasi intervento. Numerose sono le evidenze presenti in letteratura che attestano la superiorità di un trattamento antibiotico topico rispetto a una terapia antibiotica sistemica in presenza di una ferita infetta. È stato evidenziato come la sulfadiazina argentica 1% crema (SSD Ag 1%), un antibiotico chemioterapico topico, sia efficace nella prevenzione e cura delle lesioni cutanee acute e croniche infette e/o suscettibili di superinfezioni. Lo scopo di questo studio è quello di verificare l’efficacia della SSD nel migliorare la qualità di vita di pazienti affetti da lesioni. La ricerca è stata condotta presso l’Ambulatorio sperimentale di Vulnologia nel CAPT di Praia a Mare (ASP Cosenza, Italia); ha coinvolto 86 pazienti nell’arco di 4 mesi, trattati in parte in ambulatorio ed in parte in assistenza domiciliare, con età media di 69,6 anni, per la profilassi (50/86, 58%) o per il trattamento (36/86, 42%) di ulcere interessanti principalmente gli arti inferiori. I risultati ottenuti dall’utilizzo della SSD Ag 1% hanno evidenziato che, nei pazienti in cui il prodotto è stato applicato come trattamento, la percezione del dolore è diminuita in 18 su 24 pazienti, con un’aumentata qualità di vita valutata attraverso la Visual Analogue Scale-Quality of Life Scale. L’efficacia della SSD Ag 1% è stata dimostrata dai 23 casi di guarigione in 12 settimane e dai 5 casi in 4 settimane e dai 10 casi di risoluzione della sola infezione. La SSD Ag% si dimostra essere un ottimo prodotto sia per la profilassi (per prevenire l’insorgenza dell’infezione nelle ulcere a rischio) che per il trattamento dell’infezione delle ferite, coniugando efficacia e tollerabilità. Treating skin lesions is complex due to the variety of aetiologies, the presentation of the wound, the course of the injury and the high number of associated comorbidities. The main aim of any treatment is to resolve any infection, as this is the essential condition for the lesion to subsequently heal. There is a lot of evidence in literature that a topical antibiotic treatment is better than a systemic antibiotic therapy for infected wounds. Silver sulfadiazine 1% cream (SSD Ag 1%), a topical chemotherapy antibiotic, has been proved to be effective for the prevention and cure of acute and chronic skin lesions that are infected or susceptible to superinfection. The purpose of this study is to confirm the efficacy of SSD Ag 1%in improving the quality of life of patients with lesions. The study was conducted at the Experimental Wound Treatment Outpatients Department of the Praia a Mare Local Healthcare Centre (Cosenza Health Authority, Italy); it involved 86 patients during a 4-month period, some of whom were treated in the outpatients department and some at home, with an average age of 69.6, for prophylaxis (50/86, 58%) or to treat ulcers, primarily leg ulcers (36/86, 42%). The results of using SSD Ag 1% cream showed that for patients on whom the product was used as treatment, pain perception fell in 18 out of 24 patients, with improved quality of life assessed using the Visual Analogue Scale-Quality of Life Scale. The efficacy of SSD Ag 1% was shown by 23 cases of healing in 12 weeks and 5 cases in 4 weeks and by 10 cases of resolution of the infection only. SSD Ag 1% was shown to be an excellent product both for prophylaxis (to prevent infections in high-risk ulcers) and for treating wound infections, combining efficacy and tolerability.

Is a single-item visual analogue scale as valid, reliable and responsive as multi-item scales in measuring quality of life?

2004 ◽  
Vol 13 (2) ◽  
pp. 311-320 ◽  
Author(s):  
A.G.E.M. de Boer ◽  
J.J.B. van Lanschot ◽  
P.F.M. Stalmeier ◽  
J.W. van Sandick ◽  
J.B.F. Hulscher ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Quality Of Life ◽  
Visual Analogue Scale ◽  
Analogue Scale ◽  
Single Item

scholarly journals Health-related quality of life as a predictor of mortality in patients on peritoneal dialysis

2016 ◽  
Vol 24 (0) ◽  
Author(s):  
Marília Pilotto de Oliveira ◽  
Luciana Kusumota ◽  
Vanderlei José Haas ◽  
Rita de Cássia Helú Mendonça Ribeiro ◽  
Sueli Marques ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Quality Of Life ◽  
Peritoneal Dialysis ◽  
Physical Functioning ◽  
Short Form ◽  
Health Related Quality ◽  
Risk Of Death ◽  
Increased Risk ◽  
Related Quality ◽  
Health Related

Objective: to characterize deaths that occurred, and the association between socio-demographic, clinical, laboratory variables and health-related quality of life and the outcome of death in patients on peritoneal dialysis, over a two year period after an initial assessment. Method: observational, prospective population study with 82 patients on peritoneal dialysis. The instruments used for the first stage of data collection were the mini-mental state examination, a sociodemographic, economic, clinical and laboratory questionnaire and the Kidney Disease and Quality of Life-Short Form. After two years, data for characterization and occurrence of death in the period were collected. The relative risk of death outcome was calculated through statistical analysis; the risk of death was estimated by the survival Kaplan-Meier curve, and determined predictors of death by the Cox Proportional Hazards Model. Results: of the 82 original participants, 23 had as an outcome death within two years. The increased risk for the outcome of death was associated with a lower mean score of health-related quality of life in the physical functioning domain. Conclusion: the worst health-related quality of life in the physical functioning domain, could be considered a predictor of death.

scholarly journals Impact of Delirium and Its Motor Subtypes on Stroke Outcomes

Stroke ◽  
2021 ◽  
Vol 52 (4) ◽  
pp. 1322-1329
Author(s):  
Ivã Taiuan Fialho Silva ◽  
Pedro Assis Lopes ◽  
Tiago Timotio Almeida ◽  
Saint Clair Ramos ◽  
Ana Teresa Caliman Fontes ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Functional Outcome ◽  
Functional Dependence ◽  
Confusion Assessment Method ◽  
Assessment Method ◽  
Modified Rankin Scale ◽  
Stroke Patients ◽  
Risk Of Death ◽  
Increased Risk ◽  
And Behavior ◽  
The Relationship

Background and Purpose: Delirium is an acute and fluctuating impairment of attention, cognition, and behavior. Although common in stroke, studies that associate the clinical subtypes of delirium with functional outcome and death are lacking. We aimed to evaluate the influence of delirium occurrence and its different motor subtypes over stroke patients’ prognosis. Methods: Prospective cohort of stroke patients with symptom onset within 72 hours before research admission. Delirium was diagnosed by Confusion Assessment Method for the Intensive Care Unit, and its motor subtypes were defined according to the Richmond Agitation-Sedation Scale. The main outcome was functional dependence or death (modified Rankin Scale>2) at 90 days comparing: delirium versus no delirium patients; and between motor subtypes. Secondary outcomes included modified Rankin Scale score >2 at 30 days and 90-day-mortality. Results: Two hundred twenty-seven patients were enrolled. Delirium occurred in 71 patients (31.3%), with the hypoactive subtype as the most frequent, in 41 subjects (57.8%). Delirium was associated with increased risk of death and functional dependence at 30 and 90 days and higher 90-day mortality. Multivariate analysis showed delirium (odds ratio, 3.28 [95% CI, 1.17–9.22]) as independent predictor of modified Rankin Scale >2 at 90 days. Conclusions: Delirium is frequent in stroke patients in the acute phase. Its occurrence—specifically in mixed and hypoactive subtypes—seems to predict worse outcomes in this population. To our knowledge, this is the first study to prospectively investigate differences between delirium motor subtypes over functional outcome three months poststroke. Larger studies are needed to elucidate the relationship between motor subtypes of delirium and functional outcomes in the context of acute stroke.

scholarly journals MO131THE SHRUNKEN PORE SYNDROME IS ASSOCIATED WITH POOR PROGNOSIS AND LOWER QUALITY OF LIFE IN HEART FAILURE PATIENTS- THE HARVEST-MALMÖ STUDY

2021 ◽  
Vol 36 (Supplement_1) ◽  
Author(s):  
Liana Xhakollari ◽  
Anders Grubb ◽  
Amra Jujic ◽  
Erasmus Bachus ◽  
Peter M Nilsson ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Quality Of Life ◽  
Heart Failure ◽  
Poor Prognosis ◽  
Kansas City ◽  
Cox Regression ◽  
Cardiorenal Syndrome ◽  
Risk Of Death ◽  
Increased Risk ◽  
Health Related Qol

Abstract Background and Aims The cardiorenal syndrome was studied in heart failure (HF) patients with respect to the “Shrunken pore syndrome” (SPS) that is characterized by a difference in renal filtration between cystatin C and creatinine, resulting in a low eGFRcystatin C/eGFRcreatinine-ratio. Method 373 patients hospitalized for HF were retrieved from the HeARt and brain failure inVESTigation trial (HARVEST-Malmö). We used CKD-EPI formulas for estimated glomerular filtration rate (eGFR). Presence of SPS was defined as eGFRcystatinC ≤60% of eGFRcreatinine. In Cox regression multivariate models, associations between SPS, risk of death and risk of 30-day re-hospitalization were studied. Associations between SPS and impaired quality of life (QoL) were studied using multivariate logistic regressions. Results SPS was associated with all-cause mortality (124 events; hazard ratio (HR) 2.35; confidence interval (CI95%) 1.17-4.71; p=0.016 and with 30-day re-hospitalization (70 events; HR 1.82; CI95% 1.04-3.18; p=0.036). Analyses of QoL, based on a Kansas City Cardiomyopathy Questionnaire overall score &lt;50, revealed that SPS was associated with increased risk of low health-related QoL (odds ratios (OR) 2.15 (CI95% 1.03-4.49; p=0.042). Conclusion The results of this observational study show for the first time an association between SPS and poor prognosis in HF. Further studies are needed to confirm the results in HF cohorts and experimental settings to identify pathophysiological mechanisms.

Well-being and belief in a just world among rest home residents

2011 ◽  
Vol 39 (5) ◽  
pp. 655-670 ◽  
Author(s):  
Ramzi Nasser ◽  
Jacqueline Doumit ◽  
James Carifio
Keyword(s):  
Quality Of Life ◽  
Visual Analogue Scale ◽  
Analogue Scale ◽  
Well Being ◽  
Just World ◽  
Rest Home ◽  
Main Effects ◽  
The Relationship ◽  
Eq Vas

Several theorists have contended that belief in a just world may be one way elderly rest home residents cope with anxiety, fear, and depression and thus maintain their well-being. In this study we explored belief in a just world and length of time elderly have been residing in rest homes in Lebanon in relation to their levels of self-rated quality of life. A sample of 354 cognitively able elderly people were selected from 36 nursing homes. Interview questionnaires including a translated and validated Self-beliefs in a Just World Scale (BJW-S; Lipkus, Dalbert, & Siegler, 1996) and the EuroQol Visual Analogue Scale (EQ-VAS; Brooks, 1996) that measures respondents' quality of life on a 20cm visual analogue scale. The relationship between Arabic BJW-S scores and length of stay measured on the EQ-VAS was examined using analysis of variance. The findings showed significant main effects for belief in a just world on levels of EQ-VAS, but no significant effects of length of time in rest home on levels of EQ-VAS. Residents who had strong beliefs in a just world seem to have better abilities to cope with negative life events and better self-rated feelings of well-being than did residents who did not believe the world was just and who rated their own well-being lower.

scholarly journals Depression in elderly patients with Alzheimer dementia or vascular dementia and its infl uence on their quality of life

2011 ◽  
Vol 02 (01) ◽  
pp. 027-032 ◽  
Author(s):  
Yaroslav Winter ◽  
Alexei Korchounov ◽  
Tatyana V Zhukova ◽  
Natalia Epifanova Bertschi
Keyword(s):  
Quality Of Life ◽  
Cognitive Impairment ◽  
Visual Analogue Scale ◽  
Vascular Dementia ◽  
Analogue Scale ◽  
Depression Scale ◽  
Alzheimer Dementia ◽  
Co Morbidity ◽  
Prevalence Of Depression

ABSTRACT Background: Alzheimer dementia (AD) and vascular dementia (VD) are the most common causes of dementia in the elderly. Depression is an important co-morbid disorder in these diseases, which is often challenging to recognize. We investigated the prevalence of depression in patients with AD and VD and estimated the influence of depression on the health-related quality of life (HrQoL) in these patients. Materials and Methods: We evaluated prevalence of depression in consecutively recruited patients with AD or VD (n= 98). Depression was diagnosed according to criteria of the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders (DSM-IV) and scored using the Geriatric Depression Scale. The EuroQol (EQ-5D and visual analogue scale) was applied to evaluate HrQoL. The severity of cognitive impairment was measured by the Mini-Mental State Examination (MMSE). Multiple regression analysis was used to identify factors predicting severity of depression. Results: The prevalence of depression in AD/VD was 87%. In comparison to the general population, HrQoL measured on the visual analogue scale was reduced by 54% in patients with AD/VD. In the dimension “anxiety/depression” of the EQ-5D, 81% of patients with AD/VD had moderate or severe problems. Depression showed significant association with reduced HrQoL (P < 0.01). Independent predictors of more severe depression were older age, male gender, better MMSE scores and being not married. Conclusions: Depression is a prevalent psychiatric co-morbidity in patients with AD/VD, which is often under-diagnosed being masked by cognitive impairment. Depression is a predictor of reduced HrQoL in elder people with AD/VD. Therefore, they should be screened for presence of depressive symptoms and receive adequate antidepressant treatment.

Microvascular decompression of the pterygopalatine ganglion in patients with refractory cluster headache

Cephalalgia ◽  
2011 ◽  
Vol 31 (11) ◽  
pp. 1236-1239 ◽  
Author(s):  
KPQ Oomen ◽  
AJM van Wijck ◽  
GJ Hordijk ◽  
JA de Ru
Keyword(s):  
Quality Of Life ◽  
Surgical Treatment ◽  
Visual Analogue Scale ◽  
Cluster Headache ◽  
Microvascular Decompression ◽  
Preliminary Data ◽  
Analogue Scale ◽  
Temporal Muscle ◽  
Pterygopalatine Ganglion

Background: Cluster headache is an invalidating form of headache. Although cluster headache can be managed pharmacologically, some patients require surgical treatment with varying results. Microvascular decompression of the pterygopalatine ganglion could be an alternative to traditional surgical management in patients with cluster headache. Methods: Microvascular decompression of the pterygopalatine ganglion was performed in three patients with refractory cluster headache. The pterygopalatine artery was ligated and a temporal muscle graft was placed between the artery and the ganglion. Results: No differences were found between the presurgical period and 1 week, 1 month, 3 months, and 6 months postoperatively with respect to attack duration and frequency, visual analogue scale score during attacks and in remission periods, duration of remissions, and quality of life. Conclusion: These preliminary data suggest that microvascular decompression of the pterygopalatine ganglion does not provide pain reduction or improvement of quality of life in patients with refractory cluster headache.

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