Patient Reports of Satisfaction after Microvascular Decompression and Partial Sensory Rhizotomy for Trigeminal Neuralgia

Neurosurgery ◽  
2005 ◽  
Vol 56 (6) ◽  
pp. 1304-1312 ◽  
Author(s):  
Joanna M. Zakrzewska ◽  
Benjamin C. Lopez ◽  
Sung Eun Kim ◽  
Hugh B. Coakham
Keyword(s):  
Patient Satisfaction ◽  
Side Effects ◽  
Trigeminal Neuralgia ◽  
Posterior Fossa ◽  
Microvascular Decompression ◽  
Primary Group ◽  
Posterior Fossa Surgery ◽  
Ablative Surgery ◽  
Significant Difference ◽  
Primary Procedure

Abstract OBJECTIVE: There are no reports of patient satisfaction surveys after either a microvascular decompression (MVD) or a partial sensory rhizotomy (PSR) for trigeminal neuralgia. This study compares patient satisfaction after these two types of posterior fossa surgery for trigeminal neuralgia, because it is postulated that recurrences, complications, and previous surgical experience reduce satisfaction. METHODS: All patients who had undergone their first posterior fossa surgery at one center were sent a self-complete questionnaire by an independent physician. Among the 44 questions on four standardized questionnaires were 5 questions that related to patient satisfaction and experience of obtaining care. Patients were divided into those having their first surgical procedure (primary) and those who had had previous ablative surgery (nonprimary). RESULTS: Response rates were 90% (220 of 245) of MVD and 88% (53 of 60) of PSR patients. Groups were comparable with respect to age, sex, duration of symptoms, mean duration of follow-up, and recurrence rates. Overall satisfaction with their current situation was 89% in MVD and 72% in PSR patients. Unsatisfied with the outcome were 4% of MVD and 20% of PSR patients, and this is a significant difference (P < 0.01). Satisfaction with outcome was higher in those undergoing this as a primary procedure. In the primary group, satisfaction was dependent on recurrence and complication/side effects status (each P < 0.01), but this was not the case in the nonprimary group. Patients expressed a desire for earlier posterior fossa surgery in 73% of MVD and 58% of PSR patients, and this was highest in the primary group. The final outcome was considered to be better than expected in 80% of MVD and 54% of PSR patients, but 22% of the PSR group (P < 0.01) thought they were worse off. CONCLUSION: Patients undergoing posterior fossa surgery as a primary procedure are most satisfied and PSR patients are least satisfied, partly because of a higher rate of side effects.

Demonstration of neurovascular compression in trigeminal neuralgia with magnetic resonance imaging

1995 ◽  
Vol 83 (5) ◽  
pp. 799-805 ◽  
Author(s):  
James F. M. Meaney ◽  
Paul R. Eldridge ◽  
Lawrence T. Dunn ◽  
Thomas E. Nixon ◽  
Graham H. Whitehouse ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Magnetic Resonance ◽  
Trigeminal Neuralgia ◽  
Posterior Fossa ◽  
Trigeminal Nerve ◽  
Microvascular Decompression ◽  
Vascular Compression ◽  
Neurovascular Compression ◽  
Posterior Fossa Surgery ◽  
Content Type ◽  
Fine Print

✓ Until recently, the inability to demonstrate neurovascular compression of the trigeminal nerve preoperatively resulted in surgery being offered only in cases of severe trigeminal neuralgia (TGN), frequently after a prolonged trial of medical treatment and following less invasive procedures, despite the fact that posterior fossa microvascular decompression gives long-term pain relief in 80% to 90% of cases. To assess whether vascular compression of the nerve could be demonstrated preoperatively, high definition magnetic resonance tomographic angiography (MRTA) was performed in 50 consecutive patients, five of whom had bilateral TGN, prior to posterior fossa surgery. The imaging results were compared with the operative findings in all patients, including two patients who underwent bilateral exploration. Vascular compression of the trigeminal nerve was identified in 42 of 45 patients with unilateral symptoms and on both sides in four patients with bilateral TGN. In the last patient with bilateral TGN, neurovascular compression was identified on one side, and on the other side the compressing superior cerebellar artery was separated from the nerve by a sponge placed during previous surgery. There was full agreement regarding the presence or absence of neurovascular compression demonstrated by MRTA in 50 of 52 explorations, but MRTA misclassified four vessels compressing the trigeminal nerve as arteries rather than veins. In two cases, there was disagreement between the surgical and MRTA findings. In the first of these cases, surgery revealed distortion of the nerve at the pons by a vein that MRTA had predicted to lie 6 mm remote from this point. In the second patient, venous compression was missed; however, this patient was investigated early in the series and did not have gadolinium-enhanced imaging. In nine cases, MRTA correctly identified neurovascular compression of the trigeminal nerve by two arteries. Moreover, MRTA successfully guided surgical reexploration in one patient in whom a compressing vessel was missed during earlier surgery and also prompted exploration of the posterior fossa in two patients with multiple sclerosis and one patient with Charcot-Marie-Tooth syndrome, in whom neurovascular compression was identified preoperatively. It is concluded that MRTA is an extremely sensitive and specific method for demonstrating vascular compression in TGN. As a result, open surgical procedures can be recommended with confidence, and microvascular decompression is now the treatment of choice for TGN at the authors' unit. They propose MRTA as the definitive investigation in such patients in whom surgery is contemplated.

Bilateral trigeminal neuralgia: a 14-year experience with microvascular decompression

1988 ◽  
Vol 68 (4) ◽  
pp. 559-565 ◽  
Author(s):  
Ian F. Pollack ◽  
Peter J. Jannetta ◽  
David J. Bissonette
Keyword(s):  
Trigeminal Neuralgia ◽  
Posterior Fossa ◽  
Microvascular Decompression ◽  
Pain Control ◽  
Symptom Control ◽  
Sensory Loss ◽  
Content Type ◽  
Cranial Nerve Dysfunction ◽  
Ablative Procedures ◽  
Fine Print

✓ Thirty-five patients with trigeminal neuralgia (TN) bilaterally underwent posterior fossa microvascular decompression (MVD) between 1971 and 1984. They comprised 5.0% of a larger series of 699 patients with TN who underwent MVD during that interval. Compared to the subgroup of 664 patients with only unilateral symptoms, the population with bilateral TN included a greater percentage of females (74% vs. 58%, p < 0.1), a higher rate of “familial” TN (17% vs. 4.1%, p < 0.001), and an increased incidence of additional cranial nerve dysfunction (17% vs. 6.6%, p < 0.05) and hypertension (34% vs. 19%, p < 0.05). Of the 35 patients with bilateral TN, 10 underwent bilateral MVD (22 procedures) and 25 underwent unilateral MVD (30 procedures). In the latter patients, pain on the nonoperative side was well controlled with medication alone or had previously been treated by ablative procedures. Good or excellent pain control was achieved after one MVD was performed in 40 of the 45 sides treated (89%), and was maintained 1, 5, and 10 years after surgery in 82%, 66%, and 60%, respectively, based on life-table analysis. Six of 10 patients with recurrent symptoms underwent repeat unilateral MVD. Good or excellent long-term pain control was maintained in all six. With these repeat procedures included, symptom control at 1, 5, and 10 years after initial surgery was maintained in 87%, 78%, and 78% of the treated sides, respectively. Overall, 26 of 35 patients (74%) maintained good or excellent pain relief throughout the duration of the study (mean follow-up period 75 months) without resumption of regular medication usage. Although preoperative neurological deficits resulting from previous ablative procedures were seen in the majority of patients before MVD, no patient developed new major trigeminal sensory loss or masseter weakness after MVD. Operative mortality was zero. The results indicate that posterior fossa MVD is an effective and relatively safe treatment for the majority of patients with bilateral “idiopathic” TN, avoiding the risks of bilateral trigeminal nerve injury seen with other approaches.

Typical Trigeminal Neuralgia: Comparison of Results between Patients Older and Younger than 65 Years Operated on with Microvascular Decompression by Retrosigmoid Approach

2019 ◽  
Vol 81 (01) ◽  
pp. 028-032 ◽  
Author(s):  
Luciano Mastronardi ◽  
Franco Caputi ◽  
Alessandro Rinaldi ◽  
Guglielmo Cacciotti ◽  
Raffaelino Roperto ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Trigeminal Neuralgia ◽  
Elderly Patients ◽  
Microvascular Decompression ◽  
Cerebrospinal Fluid Leak ◽  
The Elderly ◽  
Retrosigmoid Approach ◽  
Younger Patients ◽  
Significant Difference ◽  
Elderly Cohort

Abstract Objective The incidence of typical trigeminal neuralgia (TN) increases with age, and neurologists and neurosurgeons frequently observe patients with this disorder at age 65 years or older. Microvascular decompression (MVD) of the trigeminal root entry zone in the posterior cranial fossa represents the etiological treatment of typical TN with the highest efficacy and durability of all treatments. This procedure is associated with possible risks (cerebellar hematoma, cranial nerve injury, stroke, and death) not seen with the alternative ablative procedures. Thus the safety of MVD in the elderly remains a topic of discussion. This study was conducted to determine whether MVD is a safe and effective treatment in older patients with TN compared with younger patients. Methods In this retrospective study, 28 patients older than 65 years (elderly cohort: mean age 70.9 ± 3.6 years) and 38 patients < 65 years (younger cohort: mean age 51.7 ± 6.3 years) underwent MVD via the keyhole retrosigmoid approach for type 1 TN (typical) or type 2a TN (typically chronic) from November 2011 to November 2017. A 75-year-old patient and three nonelderly patients with type 2b TN (atypical) were excluded. Elderly and younger cohorts were compared for outcome and complications. Results At a mean follow-up 26.0 ± 5.5 months, 25 patients of the elderly cohort (89.3%) reported a good outcome without the need for any medication for pain versus 34 (89.5%) of the younger cohort. Twenty-three elderly patients with type 1 TN were compared with 30 younger patients with type 1 TN, and no significant difference in outcomes was found (p > 0.05). Five elderly patients with type 2a TN were compared with eight younger patients with type 2a TN, and no significant difference in outcomes was noted (p > 0.05). There was one case of cerebrospinal fluid leak and one of a cerebellar hematoma, both in the younger cohort. Mortality was zero in both cohorts. Conclusions On the basis of our experience and the international literature, age itself does not seem to represent a major contraindication of MVD for TN.

scholarly journals Perioperative Gabapentin in Pediatric Thoracic Surgery Patients—Randomized, Placebo-Controlled, Phase 4 Trial

Pain Medicine ◽  
2019 ◽  
Vol 21 (8) ◽  
pp. 1562-1571 ◽  
Author(s):  
Lucyna Tomaszek ◽  
Dariusz Fenikowski ◽  
Piotr Maciejewski ◽  
Halina Komotajtys ◽  
Danuta Gawron
Keyword(s):  
Patient Satisfaction ◽  
Placebo Group ◽  
Side Effects ◽  
Thoracic Surgery ◽  
Rating Scale ◽  
Numerical Rating Scale ◽  
Care Providers ◽  
Significant Difference ◽  
Group 6 ◽  
Ravitch Procedure

Abstract Objective To determine whether the use of perioperative gabapentin reduces postoperative pain and anxiety, decreases ropivacaine consumption and side effects, and improves patient satisfaction. Design Randomized, placebo-controlled, phase 4 trial. Blinding Participants, care providers, investigators, data analysts. Setting Department of Thoracic Surgery of the Institute of Tuberculosis and Lung Disease, Rabka Zdrój Branch, Poland. Subjects Forty patients undergoing the Ravitch procedure. Methods Patients aged nine to 17 years were randomized into a gabapentin (preoperative 15 mg/kg, treatment) or placebo group. Postoperative analgesia included gabapentin (7.5 mg/kg) or placebo two times per day for three days, epidural ropivacaine + fentanyl, paracetamol, nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs, and metamizol as a “rescue drug.” Pain, anxiety, analgesic consumption, side effects, and patient satisfaction were recorded. Results There was no statistically significant difference in median pain scores (numerical rating scale &lt; 1/10) or incidence of adverse side effects between the gabapentin group (N = 20) and the placebo group (N = 20). Postoperative anxiety scores were significantly lower than before surgery in the gabapentin group (6 [4–8] vs 7 [6–8.5], P &lt; 0.01) and remained unchanged in the placebo group (6 [5–6.5] vs 6 [5–7], P = 0.07). Gabapentin-treated patients received a lower number of doses of ondansetron when compared with the placebo group (6 [5–6] vs 7 [6–9], P = 0.02). A significant negative association was found between patient satisfaction and postoperative state anxiety in the gabapentin group (R = –0.51, P = 0.02). Conclusions Perioperative administration of gabapentin resulted in a decrease of postoperative anxiety in pediatric patients undergoing the Ravitch procedure.

scholarly journals Microvascular decompression for the treatment of neurogenic hypertension with trigeminal neuralgia

BMC Neurology ◽  
2019 ◽  
Vol 19 (1) ◽  
Author(s):  
Wenchao Lu ◽  
Hui Wang ◽  
Zhongnan Yan ◽  
Yuangang Wang ◽  
Hongmin Che
Keyword(s):  
Blood Pressure ◽  
Trigeminal Neuralgia ◽  
Trigeminal Nerve ◽  
Microvascular Decompression ◽  
Effective Rate ◽  
Ventrolateral Medulla ◽  
Control Group ◽  
Hypertensive Patients ◽  
Significant Difference ◽  
Experimental Group

Abstract Background To evaluate the efficacy of microvascular decompression (MVD) in reducing hypertension (HTN) in hypertensive patients with trigeminal neuralgia (TN). Methods The clinical data of 58 cases of neurogenic HTN with TN treated in our hospital were retrospectively reviewed. Preoperative MR revealed abnormal blood pressure in the left rostral ventrolateral medulla (RVLM) and the posterior cranial nerve root entry zone (REZ). The patients were divided into control group: only trigeminal nerve was treated with MVD; experimental group: trigeminal nerve, RVLM and REZ were treated with MVD at the same time. The patients were followed up for 6 months to 1 year to observe the changes of blood pressure. Results There was no significant difference in gender, age, course of TN, course of HTN, grade of HTN and preoperative blood pressure between the two groups. After operation, the effective rate of HTN improvement with MVD was 32.1% in the control group. There was no significant difference in the preoperative and post operative blood pressure. (P△SBP = 0.131; P△BDP = 0.078). In the experimental group, the effective rate was 83.3%. The postoperative blood pressure was significantly lower than preoperative values. (P△SBP < 0.001; P△DBP < 0.001). Conclusions MVD is an effective treatment for neurogenic HTN. However, the criteria for selecting hypertensive patients who need MVD to control their HTN still needs to be further determined. Possible indications may include: left trigeminal neuralgia, neurogenic HTN; abnormal blood pressure compression in the left RVLM and REZ areas on MR; and blood pressure in these patients can not be effectively controlled by drugs.

Sitting Prone Position for the Posterior Surgical Approach to the Spine and Posterior Fossa

Neurosurgery ◽  
1982 ◽  
Vol 10 (2) ◽  
pp. 232-235 ◽  
Author(s):  
Albert W. Cook ◽  
Tariq S. Siddiqi ◽  
Florence Nidzgorski ◽  
Hadley A. Clarke
Keyword(s):  
Central Venous Pressure ◽  
Prone Position ◽  
Posterior Fossa ◽  
Surgical Approach ◽  
Airway Pressure ◽  
Venous Pressure ◽  
Posterior Fossa Surgery ◽  
Comparative Efficacy ◽  
Central Venous ◽  
Significant Difference

Abstract The sitting prone position is compared with the standard laminectomy prone position and the sitting up position for posterior fossa surgery. We measured central venous pressure and airway pressure with the patient in different positions to determine the comparative efficacy of the sitting prone position. On a linear average, the central venous pressure increased by 6.83 cm H2O and the airway pressure increased by 3.16 cm H2O when the patient was changed from the supine to the standard prone position under general anesthesia; with a change from the standard prone position to the sitting prone position, the central venous pressure decreased by 10.45 cm H2O and the airway pressure decreased by 3.66 cm H2O. However, comparing the sitting prone position for posterior fossa surgery with the sitting up position, there was no statistically significant difference in central venous or airway pressure.

scholarly journals Microvascular decompression for typical trigeminal neuralgia: Personal experience with intraoperative neuromonitoring with level-specific-CE-Chirp® brainstem auditory evoked potentials in preventing possible hearing loss

2020 ◽  
Vol 11 ◽  
pp. 388
Author(s):  
Luciano Mastronardi ◽  
Franco Caputi ◽  
Guglielmo Cacciotti ◽  
Carlo Giacobbo Scavo ◽  
Raffaelino Roperto ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Hearing Loss ◽  
Trigeminal Neuralgia ◽  
Evoked Potentials ◽  
Posterior Fossa ◽  
Microvascular Decompression ◽  
Auditory Evoked Potentials ◽  
Intraoperative Neuromonitoring ◽  
Brainstem Auditory Evoked Potentials ◽  
Group A ◽  
Group B

Background: Permanent hearing loss after posterior fossa microvascular decompression (MVD) for typical trigeminal neuralgia (TTN) is one of the possible complications of this procedure. Intraoperative brainstem auditory evoked potentials (BAEPs) are used for monitoring the function of cochlear nerve during cerebellopontine angle (CPA) microsurgery. Level-specific (LS)-CE-Chirp® BAEPs are the most recent evolution of classical click BAEP, performed both in clinical studies and during intraoperative neuromonitoring (IONM) of acoustic pathways during several neurosurgical procedures. Methods: Since February 2016, we routinely use LS-CE-Chirp® BAEPs for monitoring the function of cochlear nerve during CPA surgery, including MVD for trigeminal neuralgia. From September 2011 to December 2018, 71 MVDs for TTN were performed in our department, 47 without IONM of acoustic pathways (Group A), and, from February 2016, 24 with LS-CE-Chirp BAEP (Group B). Results: Two patients of Group A developed a permanent ipsilateral anacusia after MVD. In Group B, we did not observe any permanent acoustic deficit after surgery. In one case of Group B, during arachnoid dissection, intraoperative LS-CE-Chirp BAEP showed a temporary lag of V wave, resolved in 5 min after application of intracisternal diluted papaverine (0.3% solution without excipients). Conclusion: MVD is widely considered a definitive surgical procedure in the management of TTN. Even though posterior fossa MVD is a safe procedure, serious complications might occur. In particular, the use of IONM of acoustic pathways during MVD for TTN might contribute to prevention of postoperative hearing loss.

scholarly journals Study to assess the status of bupivacaine hydrochloride in the management of essential trigeminal neuralgia

2014 ◽  
Vol 26 (1-2) ◽  
pp. 30-33
Author(s):  
Shohda Khatun ◽  
Ashis Kumar Biswas ◽  
Rajan Karmakar ◽  
Sojeeb Dhar ◽  
Mst. Mahbuba Kafia Parvin
Keyword(s):  
Side Effects ◽  
Trigeminal Neuralgia ◽  
High Dose ◽  
Rare Form ◽  
Trigeminal Neuropathic Pain ◽  
Bupivacaine Hydrochloride ◽  
Significant Difference ◽  
The Status ◽  
The Face ◽  
Paroxysmal Pain

Trigeminal neuralgia (TN) is a rare form of neuropathic facial pain characterized by severe paroxysmal pain in the face. The treatment of trigeminal neuropathic pain disorder is a major therapeutic challenge. Medical therapy often fails either due to poor responses to drugs or to unacceptable side effects and for those cases local anesthesia should be considered. Twenty patients (nine men and eleven women) who were diagnosed with TN previously and were not responsive to further medical treatment were selected for treatment. For this study, the affected nerve was blocked with 1.5 ml of 0.5% bupivacaine HCl. Patient’s visual analogue scores (VAS) were recorded on preoperative day and on post operative at day 3, 7days, 15 days. There was a significant difference between mean preoperative and postoperative VAS value. Preoperative value was 83.10± 6.06, at postoperative 3 days was 39.60 ± 7.86, at postoperative 7 days was 16.25 ± 6.46 and at postoperative 15 days was 3.30 ± 3.19. So it can be concluded that administration of 1.5 ml of 0.5% bupivacaine HCl nerve block at regular interval can be used as treatment for patients who are affected by the side effects from high-dose antiepileptic drugs. http://dx.doi.org/10.3329/bjpp.v26i1-2.19965 Bangladesh J Physiol Pharmacol 2010; 26(1&2) : 30-33

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