P.151 Repeat surgery for recurrent trigeminal neuralgia: a systematic review and meta-analysis

Background: The success of repeat surgery for recurrent trigeminal neuralgia (TN)—with microvascular decompression (MVD), percutaneous rhizotomy (PR), or stereotactic radiosurgery (SRS)—is not well-studied. We performed a systematic review and meta-analysis of the literature on repeat surgery recurrent TN, focusing on the durability of pain relief and relative efficacy of MVD, PR, and SRS. Methods: A PRISMA systematic review of Medline/Embase/Pubmed identified studies of adults with unilateral idiopathic TN undergoing repeat surgery. The primary outcome of complete pain relief (CPR) at last follow-up was analyzed with a multivariate mixed-effects meta-analysis of proportions. Results: Seventy-eight studies met criteria; 61 were included in meta-analyses, containing 29/14/25 cohorts with 900/684/1353 patients undergoing MVD/PR/SRS respectively (mean age 64.7 years, 41% males). Initial CPR was 69% (74%/85%/52%). CPR at mean 39.7 month follow-up (38.3/38.8/41.0) was 48% (59%/60%/34%). Initial CPR for both MVD (CPR: 0.78 [0.70-0.85]) and PR (CPR: 0.93 [0.83-0.98]) was superior to SRS (CPR: 0.48 [0.35-0.61]). At follow-up, MVD (0.45 [0.32-0.58]) and PR (0.45 [0.30-0.60]) trended towards superior CPR versus SRS (0.25 [0.15-0.37]). Conclusions: Half of recurrent TN patients achieve good pain control 3 years after repeat surgery. MVD/PR showed superior initial pain relief and likely better long-term relief. These findings can inform surgical decision-making in this challenging population.

Application of Augmented Reality in Percutaneous Procedures—Rhizotomy of the Gasserian Ganglion

BACKGROUND Percutaneous rhizotomy of the Gasserian ganglion for trigeminal neuralgia is an effective therapeutic procedure. Yet, landmark-guided cannulation of the foramen ovale is manually challenging and difficult to learn. OBJECTIVE To overcome these limitations, we assessed the feasibility and accuracy of an augmented reality (AR)-guided puncture of the foramen ovale. METHODS A head phantom with soft tissue structures of the facial area was built. A three-dimensional (3D)-dataset of the phantom was generated using a stereotactic planning workstation. An optimal trajectory to the foramen ovale was created and then transferred to an AR headset. A total of 2 neurosurgeons and 2 neuroradiologists independently performed 8 AR-guided and 8 landmark-guided cannulations of the foramen ovale, respectively. For each AR-guided cannulation, the hologram was manually aligned with the phantom. Accuracy of the cannulation was evaluated using the Euclidean distance to the target point as well as the lateral deviation of the achieved trajectory from the planned trajectory at target point level. RESULTS With the help of AR guidance, a successful cannulation of the foramen ovale was achieved in 90.6% compared to the purely landmark-based method with 18.8%. Euclidean distance and lateral deviation were significantly lower with AR guidance than landmark guidance (P < .01). CONCLUSION AR greatly improved accuracy of simulated percutaneous rhizotomy of the Gasserian ganglion.

Internal Neurolysis for the Treatment of Trigeminal Neuralgia: Systematic Review

Introduction Trigeminal neuralgia remains a challenging disease with significant debilitating symptoms and variable efficacy in terms of treatment options, namely microvascular decompression (MVD), stereotactic radiosurgery (SRS), and percutaneous rhizotomy. Internal neurolysis (IN) is an alternative treatment that may be provide patient benefit but has limited understanding. We performed a systematic review of IN treatment of trigeminal neuralgia. Methods Studies from 2000 to 2021 that assessed IN in trigeminal neuralgia were aggregated and independently reviewed. Weighted averages for demographics, outcomes and complications were generated. Results A total of 520 patients in 12 studies were identified with 384 who underwent IN (mean age 53.8 years, range 46-61.4 years). A mean follow-up time of 36.5 months (range 12-90 months) was seen. Preoperative symptoms were present for about 55.0 months before treatment and pain was predominantly in V2/3 (26.8%) followed by other distributions. An excellent to good outcome (Barrow Neurological Institute Pain Score [BNI-PS] I-III) was seen in 83.7% of patients (range 72-93.8%). Pain outcomes at 1 year were excellent in 58-78.4%, good or better in 77-93.75% and fair or better in 80-93.75% of patients. On average facial numbness following IN was seen in 96% of patients however at follow-up remained in only 1.75-10%. The vast majority of remaining numbness was not significantly distressing to patients. Subgroup comparisons of IN vs. recurrent MVD, IN vs. radiofrequency ablation, the impact of IN during the absence of vascular compression as well as IN with and without MVD were also evaluated. Conclusions IN represents a promising approach for surgical treatment of trigeminal neuralgia in the absence of vascular compression or in potential cases of recurrence. Complications were limited in general. Further study is required to evaluate the impact of IN via higher quality prospective studies.

Private health insurance coverage-related lawsuits

ABSTRACT Objectives: to analyze lawsuits brought by beneficiaries of health insurance operators. Methods: this was a cross-sectional descriptive study carried out in a large-capacity private health insurance operator using data collected by the company from 2012 to 2015. Results: ninety-six lawsuits were brought by 86 beneficiaries regarding medical procedures (38.5%), treatments (26.1%), examinations (14.6%), medications (9.4%), home care (6.2%), and other types of hospitalization (5.2%). The procedures with the highest number of lawsuits were percutaneous rhizotomy; chemotherapy; treatment-related positron-emission tomography scans; and for medications relative to antineoplastic and Hepatitis C treatment. Conclusions: the lawsuits were filed because of the operators’ refusal to comply with items not established in contracts or not regulated and authorized by the Brazilian National Regulatory Agency for Private Health Insurance and Plans, refusals considered unfounded.